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September 26, 2006

Germany: Fear Of Muslim Fanatics Scuppers Mozart Opera

Mozart's opera, Idomeneo, was first performed in 1781. It is regarded as an opera seria, one that contains high emotion and drama, as opposed to the lighter opera buffa such as his Magic Flute which premiered 10 years later. Idomeneo was written when Mozart was 24, and details the convoluted tale of gods, sea monsters and the fall of Troy. For a synopsis, click here.

What brings this dramatic opera to the attention of WR is the way in which a production, which was to have been staged by Deutshe Oper Berlin, one of Germany's leading opera houses, has decided to cancel all performances, despite the cast having been rehearsed, props, sets etc all being ready.

The original Mozart opera does not mention Mohammed at all, but the current production was to be a repeat of a version produced in 2003 by the director Hans Neuenfels. When this version was shown in December 2003, it invoked outrage.

Neuenfels had taken a theme of the opera, resisting sacrifice of humans to deities, and turned it around. Where the hero was to be sacrificed to a sea monster sent by Poseidon, yet is spared from this fate by the deity, Neuenfels displays the severed heads of Mohammed, Christ, Buddha and Poseidon. These are brought onto the stage by Idomeneo as he sings, and are placed on four chairs. Neuenfels' version was last staged publicly in May 2004.

The news of the cancellation of the performances, which had been scheduled for November 5, 8, 15, and 18, is carried by numerous news sources, including Financial Times, ABC News, Der Spiegel, The Times, Arutz Sheva, Daily Mail, Evening Echo, Bloomberg, International Herald Tribune, Herald Sun, Pravda, the Scotsman and Expatica.

In Washington DC, Germany's Interior Minister, Wolfgang Schaeuble was on an official visit when he defended the Pope's recent speech at Regensburg. His obvious annoyance at the reactions of intolerant Muslims developed into a rant. He said: "I will never accept that it isn't allowed for the Pope or anyone else to make such a speech."

He also defended the right of Danish newspapers to publish cartoons which Muslims did not like. Speaking at a breakfast news conference, he told the press: "I will not accept that there will be violence because people don't like some pictures in newspapers."

Schaeuble then turned his attention to criticising those who appease Muslims who themselves are not of that ideology. To make his point, he brought up the issue of the production of Idomeneo. He warned that by showing too much sensitivity to Muslim sensibilities, the non-Muslim world "will not succeed in convincing people" that free speech and tolerance "are better than fundamentalism."

he pointed out the way that some Muslims' reactions were disproportionate to the initial source of offense. He said: "It's a difficult situation with some Muslims. They tend to use anything to become crazy. I can't accept that."

Deutsche Oper made its decision to cancel the four performances yesterday, after Berlin security officials said that the production's references to religions, including Islam, would create an "incalculable security risk". The security officials were being tactful. Islam was the real threat, a point picked up by the Interior Minister.

Germany's Culture Minister, Bernd Neumann, released a statement, which read: "Artists and the media have the task of identifying, reflecting on and commenting on social contradictions and conflicts. Problems cannot be solved by hushing them up. If even just the concern about potential protests leads to self-censorship, the democratic culture of freedom of speech is endangered."

The Director of Deutsche Oper, Kirsten Harms, defended her decision to withdraw the production's performances. At a press conference, she cited the issue of the Danish cartoons and the ensuing Muslim mania and violence. She said it was important to consider "questions of sensitivity, also questions of political diplomacy." She said that she had been warned in August of a security threat to Deutsche Oper. The warning had come from Berlin's regional Interior Senator, Ehrhart Korting. He had saiid that "he loves the Deutsche Oper very much, drives past it every day and wouldn't like it if it weren't there anymore." Harms said the staff and performers at Deutsche Oper had backed her decision to cancel "Idomeneo".

"If I had paid no attention and something had happened, everyone would rightly say that I had ignored the warnings," Ms Harms said.

In a statement, Berlin Culture Senator Thomas Flierl said: "Mrs. Harms behaved responsibly according to the security assessment available to her. However, it is clear that the security concerns communicated to the Deutsche Oper director were neither up-to- date nor sufficiently substantiated to justify a decision to cancel the Neuenfels production. We agree that this will not set a precedent and that it wasn't self- censorship."

However he had mentioned that there was no evidence of a "concrete or direct threat."

Ali Kizilkaya, the head of Germany's Islamic Council said on radio that a representation of a decapitated Mohammed "would certainly offend Muslims", but he conceded: "I think it is horrible that one has to be afraid...That is not the right way to open dialogue."

Kenan Kolat, a leader of the German Turkish community said on Bavarian Radio: "This is about art, not about politics. We should not make art dependent on religion - then we are back in the Middle Ages." He said on Netzeitung, an online newspaper: "I would recommend Muslims learn to accept certain things. Art must remain free."

Neuenfels, the production's director, contradicted Mrs Karms' comments that she had discussed the issue with him before pulling the plug. In Berliner Morgenpost today, he said: "I stand behind my production and will not change it."

On the Deutsche Opera website there is a statement on their decision.

The decision has been attacked by Berlin's mayor, Klaus Wowereit, who said that "with all understanding for the concern about the security of spectators and performers, I consider the decision of the director to be wrong. Our ideas about openness, tolerance and freedom must be lived out on the offensive. Voluntary self-limitation gives those who fight against our values a confirmation in advance that we will not stand behind them."

The Deputy Parliamentary Speaker, Wolfgang Thierse, said: "This is a very dangerous sign about fears of violence motivated by Islam in Germany. Has it come so far that we must limit artistic expression? What will be next?"

In parliament, the head of the Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU), Peter Ramsauer said the dropping of Idomeneo indicated a "naked fear of violence" and called the move an act of "pure cowardice."

Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at September 26, 2006 5:34 PM

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