NationStates Jolt Archive

Some of you may remember the opera that was cancelled in Germany a while back. Despite no concrete threats or other indications, the organiser decided to not show the opera because this version contained a scene in which various religious prophets' severed heads were shown on stage. Including Mohammed.

There was a big outcry, and a lot of publicity. Particularly the latter has really paid off. The opera was shown yesterday in full, including Mohammed's head.

The media was there, and it was sold out. But the only person who protested was a member of the evangelical church.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,455469,00.html
Indeed, there was but a single demonstrator standing outside the opera house with a sign that read, "Artistic freedom or Jesus Christ?" Horst Stutz, a member of the evangelical church, believes that Neuenfels is a self-centered provocateur who went too far, to the detriment of religious freedom.

Meanwhile, Muslim agitators were nowhere to be seen. Kenan Kolat, leader of a national association representing Germany's 3 million Turkish immigrants, attended the show, saying he wanted to "make a common stand" with his German compatriots. And Ali Kizilkaya, chairman of the 150,000-member German Islamic Council, said he favored free speech but declined to see an opera which he personally finds "tasteless and bloody."

I just thought this made a nice closure to the whole story, even if certain people won't want to hear about it.

That's weird, when I read the thread title it was to the tune of "Jimmy Crack Corn"

As for the story, it's weird that there was only one protestor. Only in Germany 'ey.

That's weird, when I read the thread title it was to the tune of "Jimmy Crack Corn"

As for the story, it's weird that there was only one protestor. Only in Germany 'ey.

:headbang:
Thanks DL... I now have that stupid tune in my brain and it won't come out!

Related to this, I've noticed the usual seasonal banning of nativiy scenes in public places and all that and its always a politician pre-empting a complaint. Has any muslim ever actually objected?

Related to this, I've noticed the usual seasonal banning of nativiy scenes in public places and all that and its always a politician pre-empting a complaint. Has any muslim ever actually objected?

it's usually
1) an atheist protesting for their children (when it's a school or something.)
2) a Lawyer trying to make a name for him/herself
3) A politician trying to make a name for him/herself

Related to this, I've noticed the usual seasonal banning of nativiy scenes in public places and all that and its always a politician pre-empting a complaint. Has any muslim ever actually objected?

Not that I've ever heard. There was the rabbi in Seattle but he was shocked when the airport pulled the Christmas trees, and backed off. The War on Christmas hasn't been a big deal this year, save for a few veterans like O'Reilly (the only combat he's ever seen, too).

Oh, and the whole thing about adding the severed-heads scene to Idomeneo was stupid, I thought. Leave the freakin' opera alone, Mozart knew what he was doing and if he and the librettist wanted severed heads, they'd have put in severed heads. Sheesh.

Related to this, I've noticed the usual seasonal banning of nativiy scenes in public places and all that and its always a politician pre-empting a complaint. Has any muslim ever actually objected?

I really hate all the stuff coming from pre-empting complaints, especially all the stuff coming out of the UK. But it's happening closer to home (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairy_penguin#Fairy_Penguins_at_Sea_World) (well mine at least) too

Oh, and the whole thing about adding the severed-heads scene to Idomeneo was stupid, I thought. Leave the freakin' opera alone, Mozart knew what he was doing and if he and the librettist wanted severed heads, they'd have put in severed heads. Sheesh.
Mozart may have known what he was doing, but he was doing it for an 18th Century audience, operas are regularly given minor updates and flourishes to highlight certain themes that are in keeping with the times and help make the performance less dated.

Mozart may have known what he was doing, but he was doing it for an 18th Century audience, operas are regularly given minor updates and flourishes to highlight certain themes that are in keeping with the times and help make the performance less dated.

Minor updates and flourishes I could live with. Writing a new scene and tacking it onto the end just to make a dubious comment about religion in a very dubious manner is silly.

Meanwhile, Muslim agitators were nowhere to be seen. Kenan Kolat, leader of a national association representing Germany's 3 million Turkish immigrants, attended the show, saying he wanted to "make a common stand" with his German compatriots. And Ali Kizilkaya, chairman of the 150,000-member German Islamic Council, said he favored free speech but declined to see an opera which he personally finds "tasteless and bloody."

Good for him.

I don't see many news stories about this.

Good for him.

I don't see many news stories about this.

of course not. muslim bashing is what all the cool kids do these daysn