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| New York's Met cancel The Death of Klinghoffer simulcast | New York's Met cancel The Death of Klinghoffer simulcast |
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| New York's Metropolitan Opera have cancelled an international simulcast of John Adams' opera The Death of Klinghoffer due to "an outpouring of concern" that it "might be used to fan global anti-semitism". | New York's Metropolitan Opera have cancelled an international simulcast of John Adams' opera The Death of Klinghoffer due to "an outpouring of concern" that it "might be used to fan global anti-semitism". |
| The Death of Klinghoffer is a coproduction between the Met and English National Opera; Tom Morris's production opened first in London in 2012, with eight performances scheduled in Manhattan from October. As with many other Met productions, opera bosses scheduled a live HD broadcast to 2,000 cinemas around the world; that event, planned for 15 November, has now been axed. | The Death of Klinghoffer is a coproduction between the Met and English National Opera; Tom Morris's production opened first in London in 2012, with eight performances scheduled in Manhattan from October. As with many other Met productions, opera bosses scheduled a live HD broadcast to 2,000 cinemas around the world; that event, planned for 15 November, has now been axed. |
| "I'm convinced that the opera is not anti-semitic," said Peter Gelb, general manager for the Met, "but I've also become convinced that there is genuine concern in the international Jewish community that the live transmission of The Death of Klinghoffer would be inappropriate at this time of rising anti-Semitism, particularly in Europe." | "I'm convinced that the opera is not anti-semitic," said Peter Gelb, general manager for the Met, "but I've also become convinced that there is genuine concern in the international Jewish community that the live transmission of The Death of Klinghoffer would be inappropriate at this time of rising anti-Semitism, particularly in Europe." |
| Composed in 1991, The Death of Klinghoffer depicts the Palestine Liberation Front's 1985 hijack of an Italian cruise ship. One man was murdered in the stand-off with authorities: 69-year-old Leon Klinghoffer, a Jewish-American tourist. | Composed in 1991, The Death of Klinghoffer depicts the Palestine Liberation Front's 1985 hijack of an Italian cruise ship. One man was murdered in the stand-off with authorities: 69-year-old Leon Klinghoffer, a Jewish-American tourist. |
| Ilsa and Lisa Klinghoffer, the victim's daughters, have accused Adams' opera of "perverting the terrorist murder of our father". "Its rationalisation of terrorism and false moral equivalencies provide no thoughtfulness or insight," they said in a statement issued by the Anti-Defamation League. "We are strong supporters of the arts, and believe that theater and music can play a critical role in examining and understanding significant world events. The Death of Klinghoffer does no such thing." | Ilsa and Lisa Klinghoffer, the victim's daughters, have accused Adams' opera of "perverting the terrorist murder of our father". "Its rationalisation of terrorism and false moral equivalencies provide no thoughtfulness or insight," they said in a statement issued by the Anti-Defamation League. "We are strong supporters of the arts, and believe that theater and music can play a critical role in examining and understanding significant world events. The Death of Klinghoffer does no such thing." |
| Besides cancelling the simulcast, the Met have reportedly agreed to include a statement from Klinghoffer's daughters in the opera's printed program. | Besides cancelling the simulcast, the Met have reportedly agreed to include a statement from Klinghoffer's daughters in the opera's printed program. |
| In his own statement, Adams argued that the Met's "regrettable" move promotes "the same kind of intolerance that the opera’s detractors claim to be preventing". "My opera accords great dignity to the memory of Leon and Marilyn Klinghoffer, and it roundly condemns his brutal murder," the composer wrote. "It acknowledges the dreams and the grievances of not only the Israeli but also the Palestinian people, and in no form condones or promotes violence, terrorism or anti-semitism." | |
| See also | See also |
| Alice Goodman: the furore that finished me | Alice Goodman: the furore that finished me |
| Martin Kettle talks to John Adams (2001 interview) |