Update to this post.

Thanks to a commenter over at Misha's, I dug a little deeper.

And found this:

After its premiere in 2003, the production by Hans Neuenfels drew widespread criticism over the scene in which King Idomeneo presents the severed heads not only of the Greek god of the sea, Poseidon, but also of Muhammad, Jesus and Buddha. The disputed scene is not part of Mozart's original staging of the 225-year-old opera, but was an addition of Neuenfels' production, which was last performed by the company in March 2004.

Now, Misha's commenter is dismissing this as something akin to the painting of the Virgin Mary with cow dung, or maybe the infamous Piss Christ. Yanno, "modern art."

I'm more than inclined to agree. As a matter of fact, I'm surprised that that the director didn't just take Mohammed out of the equation, and let the opera run.

However, if you read that whole story as linked, the guy refused to alter the scene.

So we have to give him credit for displaying cojones not normally found on the European continent these days.

And, while this blog has no love for the Ottomans, this guy gets a thumbs up:

The leader of Germany's Turkish Community said that while he could understand how the production could be seen as offensive, he also encouraged Muslims living in the West to accept certain elements of the traditions here, noting an opera production is not equivalent to a political point of view.

"I would recommend Muslims learn to accept certain things," Kenan Kolat told the online Netzeitung newspaper. "Art must remain free."

And, as an added bonus, thanks to Der Speigel....BEHEADED MOHAMMED!!!

Mmmmm.......fatwa.

Posted by: Vinnie at 11:03 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
Post contains 283 words, total size 2 kb.

1 Modern day directors and such are changing the scenery in many operas, and it is quite confusing.  They've done a rendentions of Wagner operas where the people wear suits and cocktail dresses with stark scenery.  Whatever.  It's the music I'm more concerned with.  I would prefer they stick with what the original masters wanted.  I'm not fond of this particular kind of artistic license.
 
That being said, they should not be backing down to Muslim bullying on such thing, and fatwa on Der Spiegel for showing that picture in their magazine.  I hope their employees have guns.

Posted by: RepJ at September 27, 2006 09:26 AM (XXEg4)

2 They toss and turn, revamp and struggle, recycle and rehash, makeover and turnover, but all their futile efforts leave sooo much to be desired. However, as long as they can keep the lines streaming their aim is achieved. I declared a fatwa on modern day movies and plays long ago and refuse to watch anything that was not made during the Gone with the Wind and the Anne of Green Gables era. I do try, but am direly dissappointed every doggone time! Oh, the tragedy of it all ....  oh, the theatrics ....
 
                        (-:       -:  

Posted by: Last gasp Larry at September 27, 2006 08:35 PM (Dd86v)

3 jonny4

Posted by: jonny6 at February 20, 2007 07:00 AM (3WBtI)

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