Lara St. John - About Album Covers

To: The editor of the Edmonton Journal

I very much enjoyed reading D. T. Baker's interesting and well-thought out commentary on the cover of my recently released CD. I am finding all of this controversy amusing, but quite unnecessary. I am responding to this one to try to get a few things straight.

First of all (or rather, the only thing that seems to concern him), the cover photo. I was 24 years old when this photo was taken, very far from the adolescence I am accused of portraying. The photo on the inside was taken three years earlier, so apparently I am, according to his commentary, in the enviable position of looking younger as I age. I do not think that I look so terribly young in the cover photo, and if that is the opinion of others, it is beyond my control.

Secondly, I couldn't help but notice the word 'pornography' in his opening paragraph. Perhaps he is not too familiar with pornography to be using this word in an essay about, essentially, my CD cover. The photograph was taken by Felix Limardo, an artist, photographer, film director, and Clio award-winner who has in no way anything to do with pornography or sex. I am very sorry and quite disappointed to see this picture so violently misunderstood, to the point of completely missing the point, which is music itself. The CD is of solo violin Bach, which is essentially a performer and a violin. Thus the spartan black-and-white, sunlit photo, with no jewelry, visible clothes, or anything to distract. I will admit that the apparent lack of clothing is surprising and perhaps new for a classical CD, but for this cover to be compared to other garish, tawdry covers is rather ridiculous.

Another thing: despite my youthful appearance, I am quite capable of making decisions. The use of this photo was not entirely my choice, but I did choose not to veto it. The stigma of classical album covers having to be staid and traditional (presumably for the benefit of "classical elitists", as Mr. Baker proclaims himself) as opposed to rock covers has always been something beyond my comprehension. What is classical music if not the epitome of sensuality, passion, and understated erotica that popular music, even with all of its energy and life, cannot even begin to touch? More importantly to me, if this unusual album cover is responsible for even a few more people hearing and loving these incontestably great works of Bach, then to me it is all worthwhile. Perhaps the reason classical music has such a small audience is because it caters only to that audience of "elitists" that it has.

Finally, I couldn't help but wonder, did Mr. Baker actually bother to listen to the disc itself? I could find no evidence in the commentary that he had. After all, as he pointed out, the artist's physical appearance is utterly inconsequential. Therefore, one would assume the cover is as well, which supports my utter bewilderment that either of these commentaries were necessary.

Yours very sincerely,

Lara St. John