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Death of Klinghoffer opera chiefs cancel cinema broadcasts across world Death of Klinghoffer opera chiefs cancel cinema broadcasts across world
(about 1 hour later)
The Death of Klinghoffer – an opera based on the 1985 hijacking of the cruise ship Achille Lauro by members of the Palestine Liberation Front – has been attracting controversy for 23 years. But the latest chapter has left its librettist saddened and not a little bemused.The Death of Klinghoffer – an opera based on the 1985 hijacking of the cruise ship Achille Lauro by members of the Palestine Liberation Front – has been attracting controversy for 23 years. But the latest chapter has left its librettist saddened and not a little bemused.
On Tuesday the Metropolitan Opera in New York abruptly cancelled plans to broadcast a live, high-definition performance to cinemas across the world, a decision labelled "bizarre and foolish" by Alice Goodman, who wrote the libretto.On Tuesday the Metropolitan Opera in New York abruptly cancelled plans to broadcast a live, high-definition performance to cinemas across the world, a decision labelled "bizarre and foolish" by Alice Goodman, who wrote the libretto.
The opera, first staged in 1991, takes its title from the murder of the Jewish-American tourist Leon Klinghoffer, a wheelchair user, who was shot in the head and thrown overboard. The opera, first staged in 1991, takes its title from the murder of the Jewish-American tourist Leon Klinghoffer (right), a wheelchair user, who was shot in the head and thrown overboard.
Its opponents have called it antisemitic and sympathetic to terrorists – the main reason it was not staged in the UK until 2012 – and it is this production, an English National Opera and Met co-production directed by Tom Morris, that will open in New York in October. Its opponents have called it antisemitic and sympathetic to terrorists – the main reason it was not staged in the UK until 2012, and it is this production, an English National Opera and Met co-production directed by Tom Morris, that will open in New York in October.
But only audiences in the Lincoln Centre will see it. After discussions with the Anti-Defamation League, the Met said it was cancelling what would have been a simulcast on 15 November to 2,000 cinema screens in 66 countries.But only audiences in the Lincoln Centre will see it. After discussions with the Anti-Defamation League, the Met said it was cancelling what would have been a simulcast on 15 November to 2,000 cinema screens in 66 countries.
Peter Gelb, the company's general manager, said: "I'm convinced that the opera is not antisemitic 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 antisemitism, particularly in Europe." Peter Gelb, the company's general manager, said: "I'm convinced that the opera is not antisemitic 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 antisemitism, particularly in Europe." The controversy over the opera effectively finished off the musical career of Goodman, born a Jew in Minnesota and now a Church of England rector living near Cambridge.
The controversy over the opera effectively finished off the musical career of Goodman, born a Jew in Minnesota and now a Church of England rector living near Cambridge. On Wednesday Goodman called the decision wrong and contradictory. She was surprised the Met did not have a plan for addressing "the controversy that this opera always brings with it.
On Wednesday Goodman called the decision wrong and contradictory. She was surprised the Met did not have a plan for addressing "the controversy that this opera always brings with it".
She questioned the reasons for cancelling the simulcast. "The whole idea of pogroms emerging from the simulcast of a modern opera is more than faintly absurd," she said. "I think it is very unfortunate. It seems to me what we have here is a reaction. It is a wrong and a contradictory reaction.She questioned the reasons for cancelling the simulcast. "The whole idea of pogroms emerging from the simulcast of a modern opera is more than faintly absurd," she said. "I think it is very unfortunate. It seems to me what we have here is a reaction. It is a wrong and a contradictory reaction.
"There is nothing antisemitic in Klinghoffer apart from one aria, which is sung by an antisemitic character and is clearly flagged as such.""There is nothing antisemitic in Klinghoffer apart from one aria, which is sung by an antisemitic character and is clearly flagged as such."
Goodman questioned whether Gelb really believed what he was saying. "The simulcasts from the Met are watched and loved by all kinds of people who couldn't possibly get to a live performance. One of the things being said by this decision is that New Yorkers can be trusted but people in the mid-west, say, or the south or the west, they can't be trusted and, as for the Europeans! The notion that this can be watched live but not in a cinema is bizarre and foolish and I regret it."Goodman questioned whether Gelb really believed what he was saying. "The simulcasts from the Met are watched and loved by all kinds of people who couldn't possibly get to a live performance. One of the things being said by this decision is that New Yorkers can be trusted but people in the mid-west, say, or the south or the west, they can't be trusted and, as for the Europeans! The notion that this can be watched live but not in a cinema is bizarre and foolish and I regret it."
In a statement, the composer, John Adams, called the decision deeply regrettable. "My opera accords great dignity to the memory of Leon and Marilyn Klinghoffer, and it roundly condemns his brutal murder. 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 antisemitism. In a statement the composer, John Adams, called the decision deeply regrettable. "My opera accords great dignity to the memory of Leon and Marilyn Klinghoffer, and it roundly condemns his brutal murder. 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 antisemitism.
"The cancellation of the international telecast is a deeply regrettable decision and goes far beyond issues of 'artistic freedom', and ends in promoting the same kind of intolerance that the opera's detractors claim to be preventing.""The cancellation of the international telecast is a deeply regrettable decision and goes far beyond issues of 'artistic freedom', and ends in promoting the same kind of intolerance that the opera's detractors claim to be preventing."
The Anti-Defamation League argued that the opera could "foment antisemitism globally or legitimise terrorism", and its director, Abraham Foxman, said the Met had been "very open to hearing our concerns".The Anti-Defamation League argued that the opera could "foment antisemitism globally or legitimise terrorism", and its director, Abraham Foxman, said the Met had been "very open to hearing our concerns".
The ADL was representing the objections of the murdered man's daughters, Lisa and Ilsa Klinghoffer, who have led condemnation of the opera since it was staged at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in 1991.The ADL was representing the objections of the murdered man's daughters, Lisa and Ilsa Klinghoffer, who have led condemnation of the opera since it was staged at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in 1991.
They said they believed the opera "perverts the terrorist murder of our father and attempts to romanticise, rationalise, legitimise and explain it".They said they believed the opera "perverts the terrorist murder of our father and attempts to romanticise, rationalise, legitimise and explain it".
They added: "We are strong supporters of the arts, and believe that theatre and music can play a critical role in examining and understanding significant world events. The Death of Klinghoffer does no such thing. Its rationalisation of terrorism and false moral equivalencies provide no thoughtfulness or insight." They added: "We are strong supporters of the arts, and believe that theatre and music can play a critical role in examining and understanding significant world events.
"The Death of Klinghoffer does no such thing. Its rationalisation of terrorism and false moral equivalencies provide no thoughtfulness or insight."
The ENO had been braced for protests when it staged Klinghoffer but everything passed off peaceably with a solitary protester and nothing like the furore that happened in New York.The ENO had been braced for protests when it staged Klinghoffer but everything passed off peaceably with a solitary protester and nothing like the furore that happened in New York.
John Berry, ENO's artistic director, said in a statement: "Both the Met and ENO have staged all of John Adams' major operatic work and, as co-producers of this staging of The Death of Klinghoffer, we completely believe in this piece and the work of John Adams.John Berry, ENO's artistic director, said in a statement: "Both the Met and ENO have staged all of John Adams' major operatic work and, as co-producers of this staging of The Death of Klinghoffer, we completely believe in this piece and the work of John Adams.
"I personally believe that it is not antisemitic and I hope that audiences seeing the work in New York later in the year will come to understand this for themselves and be moved by this exceptional opera. The work was warmly received in London and deemed a great success.""I personally believe that it is not antisemitic and I hope that audiences seeing the work in New York later in the year will come to understand this for themselves and be moved by this exceptional opera. The work was warmly received in London and deemed a great success."