Posted on 10/01/2006 10:45:11 AM PDT by Dark Skies
A Berlin opera house condemned for canceling performances of a Mozart work because of concern it could provoke violence by Muslims said on Thursday it might consider staging the production if it had security assurances.
"If there was a new security plan, we could consider it," Alexander Busche, a spokesman for the Deutsche Oper, said when asked about reinstating "Idomeneo," which includes a scene with the severed heads of the Prophet Mohammad, Buddha and Jesus.
Although the opera house had agreed on its program until mid-June, there were some free days which could be used, he said.
A row erupted after Deutsche Oper said on Monday it had pulled four performances of the Mozart work in November.
Director Kirsten Harms said the police had warned her of an "incalculable" security risk if she went ahead. Police have since said they received an anonymous phone call with an abstract warning rather than a specific threat.
Her decision sparked condemnation across Germany. Chancellor Angela Merkel said Germans should not cave in to fears of Islamic violence.
A police spokesman told Reuters police would be available if the opera house decided to stage the work but said there had been no talks with its management.
Berlin's councilor for internal affairs Erhart Koerting said in a statement the capital's security forces would be able to adequately protect the performance at the Deutsche Oper.
The head of the foundation that oversees Berlin's opera houses said he was working with the Deutsche Oper to find ways to reinstate "Idomeneo." "It would make sense to bring this show back," Michael Schindhelm told German radio.
Some media speculated that other German opera houses might be willing to stage it.
DIRECTOR ADDED SCENE
The opera, telling the story of the Cretan king Idomeneo, was first performed in 1782. Director Hans Neuenfels added the controversial scene to the current production, which had its premiere in 2003. It has not been performed since mid-2004.
Anger among many Germans has been reflected in the media.
"Why are we bowing to Islam?" read Thursday's front page of the top-selling daily Bild. Inside it showed a photomontage of Berlin's parliament building with minarets and an Islamic crescent superimposed on its central glass dome.
Bavarian state premier Edmund Stoiber said succumbing to fear represented a victory for terrorists. "We must never give up our constitutional freedoms out of fear of Islamist thought-terrorism," he told Bild.
Germany's Muslim groups have kept quiet. Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said on Wednesday he had agreed with several Muslim community leaders in a conference on Islamic integration that it would be good if the opera could be shown.
The row highlights the growing fear of Islamic radicalism around Europe.
Two weeks ago Pope Benedict enraged Muslims by quoting from a medieval text linking the spread of Islam to violence. Last year, publication of cartoons lampooning the Prophet Mohammad in a Danish newspaper triggered violent Muslim protests.
"Chancellor Angela Merkel said Germans should not cave in to fears of Islamic violence."
Great job, Angie! The world has been waiting for another Iron Lady.
Frankly, there is a far greater offense in play here than bothering Muslims or bowing to them.
Who authorized this moron to tamper with Mozart? Why was he allowed to wiggle his imperfect fingers into that which is already perfect.
Merkel definitely scored some points with me on this one. Good stuff.
Isn't "Idomeneo" set in ancient Crete?
Any tampering with Mozart is an offense against the universe that transends either offending Muslims or bowing to them.
This moron needs to find other work.
1. Add a scene calculated to offend all religions. (Since Mozart is ... oh so plebian –example- Amadeus, the film)
2. In light of the over-reaction of parts of the Muslim community in many recent cases, any reaction at all here could be portrayed as "yet another instance of Moslem“ religious intolerance.
3. Should anyone object to the Christian desecration, plainly there, they too can be safely lumped with the Moslem protests.
4. Ergo, all religion is bad … In a chess metaphor, reject the poisoned pawn.
Well said!
Actually, jewish atheist writer Henryk Broder expressed his disgust that the head of Moses was missing and pondered over the question if he had to stage a riot or if openly throwing up in the opera lobby would be enough to show his rage.
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