I am writing to comment on the lamentations of Nathan Slobodkin [BDN letter, May 2] about the amount of empty seats at the recent violin recital by Midori Gotos and Robert MacDonald.

I know I speak for my daughter and perhaps other people as well in offering a reason for the less than full house for what has been described as a “phenomenal performance.”

The price of admission was $26 per person, or, in my case, $52 for my daughter and myself.

Do they charge tax on these tickets also?

As much as we would have enjoyed seeing the performance, I find it hard to justify this outlay of funds at the present time. To close on a good note, I will continue to be a fan of the arts, if only from my armchair. And my daughter’s music and art lessons will continue in the hopes that perhaps someday she will be able to perform for the large number of music lovers in the area and beyond. M.P. Mehr Jr. Charlotte