May 4, 2009, - 3:37 pm
European Opera Now Live Sex Show: Another Reason Not to Be Like Europe
By Debbie Schlussel
Socialism, giant chunks of the country on welfare, rampant Muslim immigration and imposition upon rational society, showers once a week–these are just a few of the many reasons we don’t want or need to be like Europe, despite Hollywood and the American left’s ever-growing push to get us there, via Obama.
And now, here’s yet another reason to remain un-“European.” Their opera stage–once the setting of high culture and civilization–has evolved into low-rent, live sex shows that would make Larry Flynt blush.
Expressions of sexuality on the opera stage have reached a fever pitch in Europe, where radical interpretations of standard repertoire — so-called “director’s theater” — have become the norm.
Full frontal nudity, simulated sex and debauchery, often marinated in violence, are omnipresent. Notorious Spanish director Calixto Bieito’s current production of Christoph Willibald Gluck’s “Armida” in Berlin includes rape, exposed male genitalia and what one blogger calls lipstick lesbianism. Bieito’s version of Mozart’s “Abduction from the Seraglio” included masturbation, rape, urine drinking and cutting the nipples off a prostitute.
And you know who thinks we Americans are too “unclassy” and “uncultured” to appreciate this display of “civilization” and “high culture”? Tax-funded Michigan Oprea Theatre general director David DiChiera. He thinks we need to be more like Europe.
DiChiera bemoans American reluctance to accept nontraditional staging, and a culture that accepts sex in films, TV and commercials but turns puritanical when it comes to the opera house. . . .
MOT productions have included nudity when DiChiera felt the decision was validated by the text. When Maria Ewing sang Salome, she didn’t even sport a G-string when she stripped off her seven veils. (The lights instantly went dark.) “Dead Man Walking” opened with naked lovers nuzzling before their murder.
Directors pushed the envelope in “Don Giovanni” and “Rigoletto” with mildly pantomimed sexual activities, though the evocation of oral sex in the latter prompted a sensationalized local TV news report and MOT nixed the deed from the remaining performances.
Hmmm . . . and the difference between this and what we here in Detroit refer to as “the Windsor ballet” (completely nude strip clubs)?
High culture, my friends. High culture. It’s “opera.” Yes, that’s what they’re calling it these days in Europe . . . and Detroit.
You stay classy, Europe.
Thanks so much, not just for the opinion, but for the information, which I hadn’t come across anywhere else. As a Michigan taxpayer I want to know about this tripe.
BTW, Debbie, been hearing from you through different outlets for years. Always appreciate your information and opinions.
DP on May 4, 2009 at 4:18 pm