Germany's conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel yesterday led political and arts world uproar at the scrapping of a Mozart opera that features the head of the prophet Mohammed rolling across the stage. The performances were cancelled amid fears the scene could trigger violence among the nation’s Muslim community. But Mrs Merkel denounced "self-censorship out of fear" as unacceptable, reflecting a mood of national indignation that was not limited to the arts set but cut right across all social lines. And last night there were hopes that increased government pressure might get the show put back on. A groundbreaking "integration" summit between...
