Problems with the blog called “Intermezzo”

Do readers here read the blog called “Intermezzo”? It covers mostly voice. By referrals, it seems to be London’s only serious opera blog.

The New York blog “Parterre” and the Milan blog “Opera Chic” are comparable.

I began reading “Intermezzo” about a year ago when the blogger (man or woman unclear) was in disgrace with the ROH over photography and copyright and was facing the possibility of being barred from the house.

The blog is timely with news, notably British opera news. But he (or she) doesn’t play by the ground rules of blogging.

Posts from readers are suppressed when they disagree with the blogger. Correspondence by email is ignored.

Have other Gramophone readers had this experience with “Intermezzo”?

By blogging protocol, reader posts run unless they would cause legal trouble for the blog, are obscene, or are simply nuisance posts. Opinion is expected to vary. And correspondence, by common courtesy, is answered.

I wasted my time with “Intermezzo” last week by preparing a factual post after reading a misinformed review of Jonas Kaufmann’s July 26 Munich recital.

The post was suppressed. A follow-up was ignored. A separate email using the blogger’s public email address went unanswered.

So it seems that “Intermezzo” is merely one man’s (or one woman’s) personal space, where approved views appear.

In contrast, all views submitted to “Parterre” and “Opera Chic” over the last few years have appeared, and all emails have been answered. Those are good-faith blogs, with all the back-and-forth that implies.

An equally vital and honest blog on London’s opera scene would be welcome.