For some reason the words smug, patronising, ignorant, self-satisfied, contemptuous and buffoon came into my mind when I read this Evening Standard story about a concert being staged by Sting and his wife (who is apparently called Mrs Styler; surely she should be Mrs Sting?).
Mrs Sting offered this thought:
I hope it will help evolve opera into a form for
everybody. Luciano Pavarotti introduced me to my first opera, Tosca. I thought this had to be for everybody, it was magnificent.
Opera is for everybody, and has been and will be for centuries without the help of a talentless groaner like Sting.