Police guard Berlin opera house anew for Idomeneo

Berlin - Riot police cordoned off one of Berlin's three opera houses Friday for a second and final staging of Mozart's opera Idomeneo amid fears that its anti-Islam message might attract violent protest. Three months ago a performance was cancelled, but Idomeneo resumed on December 18 without any incident other than some jeers from the audience and a tiny protest outside by a few Christians. A closing scene shows Jesus Christ, Mohammed and Buddha decapitated. Devout German Muslims said they would not attend the opera because of the 30-second scene, which is not part of the original Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart script, but was added by director Hans Neuenfels when he revived the opera in 2003. A Catholic magazine, Christ in der Gegenwart, said this week the 'travesty' had been an 'experiment' on religious feelings. Berlin police said they mounted the biggest operation ever to protect an opera in the city, 'but not as big as for a top football match.' Sniffer dogs were searching the Deutsche Oper theatre for hidden bombs and metal-detector gates were set up to ensure the formally attired audience were not carrying knives or guns. There has never been any tangible threat to the opera house. German Chancellor Angela Merkel led outrage in September at the cancellation. Critics said at the time that theatre management had compromised the principles of free speech and freedom of the arts. Berlin police said Thursday they had begun an internal inquiry into who leaked a confidential security analysis in September that suggested the production of Idomeneo might provoke violent protests in Islamic nations. © 2006 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur

And Also

Look Back at the Worst Celebrity Breakups

Look Back at the Worst Celebrity Breakups - PopEater
GASP: Goldstriker creates world's most expensive iPhone - The Tech Herald
USA Switches January Returns To One-A-Night - Cinema Blend
Peter Jackson Looks Lovely at 'Bones' Premiere - PopEater
A&E series 'Hoarders' and 'Intervention' premiere Monday, Nov. 30th, preview

Your Talkback on this Story

Latest Headlines in Arts

Older Talkback

page: 1

Jihad in Germany?Dec 29th, 2006 - 17:45:20

Decapitating Mohammed is the worst offense against Allah, Islam and the Ummah. I don't think that this crime will remain unpunished, and as a devout Christian I can totally understand the anger and insulted feelings of the Muslim community.
The question is: How and when will the following individuals suffer the consequences of their blasphemic words, deeds and attitudes?

1. director Hans Neuenfels
2. opera manager Kirsten Harms
3. Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble (this one is currently under tight security protection, so the blowback against him will probably take place when he's no longer in office)
4. Chancellor Angela Merkel (ditto)

Report this comment

page: 1

Arts

Arts News

Police guard Berlin opera house anew for Idomeneo

And Also

Your Talkback on this Story

Similar articles

Latest Headlines in Arts

Older Talkback

From Sites we Like

In Monsters and Critics

Corporate

The Fine Print