Los Angeles :

One can point fingers in many different directions in the case of Los Angeles County approving a request by Los Angeles Opera for a $14 million emergency loan. The county Board of Supervisors Ringapproved the request by a vote of 4 to 1 on Tuesday, with Mike Antonovich dissenting.

According to the opera company’s chief executive, Stephen Rountree, the company is $20 million in debt, partially because of the undertaking of its “Ring” festival that is centered around Richard Wagner’s four-opera “Der Ring des Nibelungen.” The 10-week regional arts festival, scheduled for April 15 to June 30 in 2010, has cost the opera company $32 million. (Read the full story here: L.A. Opera gets $14-million emergency loan.)

Readers have been pretty mixed in the comments section about the granted request, though they’ve mentioned Antonovich’s request to refocus the festival away from Wagner, a 19th century composer who had openly anti-Semitic personal views.

Here’s what they’ve had to say so far:

TomTallis defended the arts: Antonovitch's anti-Wagner stance is really behind the times. Even Israel hasn't banned Wagner performances for decades. Perhaps Mr Antonovitch could point out which music in the Ring is anti-semitic?

Jebediah honed in on the dissenter: Why is Antonovich such a negative Scrooge all the time? He needs to be shown the door. The arts must be supported.

Donald Frazell commented on the $14 million: And no, its not "just a loan". They already had a $6 million debt foregivness before, so much of this will be also. if not all, as where they gonna get the monies to repay in this economy? We are stuck with the bill, thanks effette oepera fans, hope it was worth it. NOT.

Karla brought up the state of the economy: That said, although I love opera and balk at the outrage of $14 million compared to what kind of money can be unloaded into sports due to this day and age's supply and demand, I for one don't care if this Ring fails. They should have pulled the plug on it the minute the economy crashed, that much is obvious.