euro|topics - Indignation over the cancellation of 'Idomeneo' in Berlin

Main focus of Thursday, September 28, 2006

Indignation over the cancellation of "Idomeneo" in Berlin

The Deutsche Oper has withdrawn a production of Mozart's opera "Idomeneo" by Hans Neuenfels from its programme owing to fears that it could trigger protests from radical Muslims. Four heads roll in the opera: Jesus', Buddha's,Muhammad's and Poseidon's. The opera house's director, Kirsten Harms, has been harshly criticised across Europe for her decision.

Helsingin Sanomat - Finland

The Finnish newspaper points out that the controversial Mozart production had already premiered in Berlin in 2003 and that this was just to be a continuation. "Director Hans Neuenfels has always given new meaning to old operas with his provocative productions. Now the director of the Deutsche Oper has made the production much more provocative than anyone could have dreamed. Religious extremists are fuelling fears and intolerance, but the Deutsche Oper's decision to strike one of its own productions is evidence of a rash attempt to restrict its own freedom of expression." (28/09/2006)

Spiegel Online - Germany

In light of the wave of indignation caused by the cancellation of the Mozart opera "Idomeneo", German-Turkish writer Feridun Zaimoglu calls on people to "keep things in perspective". "It's as if half of Germany had just been waiting for the opportunity to pounce on someone. Ms. Harms made a carefully weighed decision which I very much respect... Nowadays, it seems, one day we're offending the Christians and the next it's the Muslims. However I also want to make one thing very clear: there can and should be no external censorship. But it's also unacceptable that a director who was acting to protect the safety of her audience and actors be accused of self-censorship... On the one hand I see the usual suspects, those who are constantly on the look-out for any excuse to act offended. On the other I see the narrow-minded critics who have it very easy and are now condemning the cancellation as an act of submission to the Islamists. That's absolute nonsense." (28/09/2006)

El País - Spain

The daily considers that by withdrawing "Idomeneo" from its program, the director of Deutsche Oper, Kirstin Harms, has merely managed to, "indignate free and democratic societies and to worry those who are struggling all over the world to obtain more freedom of expression, similar to that which exists in Europe today. This freedom of expression is the fruit of centuries of continuous struggle along with endless sacrifices and setbacks ... . These are conquests that cannot be given up and nobody should expect free societies to take a step backwards. ... This is one more incident to add to the debate which, as the caricature crisis and Benedict XVI's Regensburg statements have shown, demands more frankness and good will from all sides every time. It also requires mutual respect and, obviously, courage and correctness to defend culture, dignity and freedom. The director of the theatre in Berlin has lacked all of this." (28/09/2006)

Berlingske Tidende - Denmark

The newspaper comments on the cancellation of Mozart's opera, "Idomeneo", in Berlin with reference to the cartoon debate which broke out roughly a year ago in Denmark. "By now all critics must be able to see that the cartoon debate was not specific to the Danish context. We must act against this intimidation of democratic societies – today, tomorrow and for as long as it takes. We must do this with words, but also with specific policies and courage – and it's the latter that was obviously lacking in the case of the Berlin opera. Who knows what the director was thinking, but her justification is an admission of defeat... Withdrawing the opera from the programme was a ridiculous, objectionable and cowardly move which deserves the criticism of the German government. But it would be even worse if the opera's decision were to set a precedent within Europe." (28/09/2006)

Le Temps - Switzerland

The editorialist Laurent Wolf chooses to draw a parallel between the "Idomeneo" scandal and the experience of the eminent Islam specialist Bassam Tibi, born in Damas and of German nationality. Judging his integration on European turf impossible, he chose to go and teach in The United States. "Self-censorship of a work of art and the disgust that lead Bassam Tibi to leave have something in common. On one hand fear and anticipation of a possible reaction, the legitimacy of which is no longer even up for discussion, but which is imposed by force of it's capacity to harm- One simply does not criticise a religion, least of all this one, right? On the other hand, the impossibility of being seen and treated with respect, that is to say, for what you are. Because Bassam Tibi and most Muslims say nothing and do nothing to bring about the suspicion that that is directed towards them.' (28/09/2006)

Corriere della Sera - Italy

The editorialist Magdi Allam was very shocked by the declarations of Father Thomas Michel, a Jesuit who is a specialist on Islam and the president of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. The council has firmly condemned Benedict XVI's statements, judging that the Christians owe an apology to Muslims. "Father Michel is the emblem of the 'Islamically correct' within the Church. A new life philosophy that urges the West to self-censor its own freedom of expression for fear of reaction from Islamists, as the Berlin opera scandal has shown by choosing to follow the decision, just like Geneva concerning the Voltaire's 'Mahomet' [the play was banned in Geneva in 1993 upon the demand of representatives of the Muslim community] London's censoring of Christopher Marlowe's play 'Tamburlaine the Great'. (28/09/2006)

Der Standard - Austria

Bert Rebhandl examines the connection between culture and religion in Western society and concludes that artistic freedom should always be given priority. "Hans Neuenfels' concept is typical of the kind of theatre that has a relatively open approach to ideas. You can like it or not like it, but you can't prohibit it without good reason. Politicians like to back those who take the common sense approach. They condemn the extreme, yet it's precisely the extremely wide spectrum of opinion in an open society that culture should reflect... Many Muslims perceive the West as a cultural diaspora that offers too many options, and they're not drawn to it. They find their own form of culture in their religion. However, it would be wrong to try to impose restrictions on the unrestricted culture of liberal societies or to try to make it more compatible with religion. The question of the admissibility of an idea can only be decided within the free democratic context: producers, sponsors, critics and audiences must be left to sort it out among themselves." (28/09/2006)

» To the complete press review of Thursday, September 28, 2006

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