Carnal Reason

Via Deutsche Presse-Agenteur, hat tip, Dhimmi Watch

Berlin- One of Germany’s leading opera houses, Deutsche Oper Berlin, announced Monday that it was cancelling a controversial production because of the likelihood that it might offend Muslims. The original opera, Idomeneo by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, makes no reference to Islam, but director Hans Neuenfels introduced a scene to his production that depicts the decapitated heads of the Prophet Mohammed, Jesus Christ, the Buddha and the Greek god Poseidon.

It caused outrage at the premiere in 2003. The opera company said it was cancelling plans to revive the show next month after advice from security authorities in Berlin that the performances posed an “incalculable” security risk.

Asked for comment, police said they were not aware of any specific threat to the opera house at the moment.

Idomeneo had been scheduled to run on November 5, 8, 15 and 18.

The original Mozart opera, first performed in 1781, revolves around resistance to human sacrifice to the gods.

An incalculable risk is one that cannot be calculated. It is not known to be high, or even to be non-zero.

Ironically, human sacrifice is back in vogue.

Posted on September 25th, 2006 by pwyll
Filed under: culture, politics, religion