Citing security risks, renowned Berlin opera house cancels Mozart production

BERLIN -- A leading opera house canceled a three-year-old production of Mozart's "Idomeneo" that included a scene showing the severed head of the Prophet Muhammad, unleashing a furious debate over free speech.\nIn a statement late Monday, the Deutsche Oper said it decided "with great regret" to cancel the production after Berlin security officials warned of an "incalculable risk" because of the scene.\nAfter its premiere in 2003, the production by Hans Neuenfels drew widespread criticism over the scene in which King Idomeneo presents the severed heads not only of the Greek god of the sea, Poseidon, but also of Muhammad, Jesus and Buddha. The disputed scene is not part of Mozart's original staging of the 225-year-old opera, but was an addition of Neuenfels' production, which was last performed by the company in March 2004.\n"We know the consequences of the conflict over the (Muhammad) caricatures," Deutsche Oper said in its statement announcing the decision. "We believe that needs to be taken very seriously and hope for your support."\nOn Tuesday, Deutsche Oper director Kirsten Harms said security officials had recommended, but not ordered, that she either cut the scene or pull the entire production from the 2006-2007 lineup.\n"The State Criminal Office assessed the situation and came to the conclusion that if the Deutsche Oper stages this version of 'Idomeneo' in its originally produced form, it will pose an incalculable security risk to the public and employees," Harms told reporters.\n"If I were to ignore this and say, 'We are going to stage this nevertheless, or because of this,' and something were to happen, then everyone would say, and would be right to say, 'She ignored the warning of security officials,'" Harms said.\nShe said she spoke at length with Neuenfels -- who insisted his staging not be altered -- as well as the orchestra director and others involved in the production before making her decision.\nWhile some expressed understanding for the decision, many were outraged.\n"That is crazy," Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble told reporters in Washington, where he was holding meetings with U.S. officials. "This is unacceptable."\nThe leader of Germany's Islamic Council welcomed the decision, saying a depiction of Muhammad with a severed head "could certainly offend Muslims."\n"Nevertheless, of course I think it is horrible that one has to be afraid," Ali Kizilkaya told Berlin's Radio Multikulti. "That is not the right way to open dialogue"