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Just another night at the opera? Think again

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published December 18, 2006

BERLIN - Audience members at tonight's Deutsche Oper Berlin production of Mozart's Idomeneo will be kindly asked to empty their pockets of all metal objects and be prepared to leave - quickly - in case of a bomb alert.

The security measures are a case of art meeting religious sensibility - and a decision that the show must go on, despite concerns that the production, featuring the severed head of the prophet Mohammed, could prompt violence.

Mozart might wonder what the heads of Islam's founder, along with those of Jesus, Buddha and the Greek god of the seas, Poseidon, are doing in his opera. They are the brainchild of director Hans Neuenfels, whose production premiered three years ago. While some critics found the twist trite back then, it aroused little attention outside the opera world.

But that was before a Danish newspaper cartoon of Mohammed led to Muslim riots worldwide - and before comments by German-born Pope Benedict XVI further inflamed sensibilities in the Islamic world, just as the Neuenfels production was to be revived.

Such fears initially led the opera house to cancel plans to revive the production, but a city proud of its openness, tolerance and artistic verve was aghast.

So the show is back, though the performance comes with procedures that for some will make the experience more like clearing airport security than a night at the opera.

The controversy has focused international interest on the production, but it has done little to improve ticket sales. Seats were still available.

[Last modified December 18, 2006, 00:05:06]