Is that controversial Mozart production back on again? Reuters thinks it's possible.
A Times reader chips in:
The opera is set during the Trojan War, long before the birth of Muhammad. The gods in question are those of Ancient Greece. It is another example of the cock-eyed thinking so common in operatic productions these days. The offence is not to "the gods" but to Mozart.
Michael Moore biographer, Jesse Larner forwards a mischievous letter that he's sent to the Guardian. I had no idea he was such a pagan:
Where is the outrage about the indignity that the opera proposed to inflict upon our Great Lord Poseidon? We humble followers of the illustrious Olympian also have feelings that transcend mere democratic niceties, and we propose to claim our rights.
From Odysseus to the residents of New Orleans, many have learned to their regret that the Sea God will not be mocked -- but if he fails to act, we are here to defend his honour. Non-Poseidonists have nothing to fear so long as they are respectful of our beliefs, and indeed should be grateful for our resolve and courage. Society will be far better off when we all accept the principle that religious conviction trumps every other aspect of civic life
But a dissenting note from the Atlantic Review's Joerg Wolf, who just e-mailed me this:
What a great and shrewed publicity stunt the opera house made by first announcing the cancellation. Usually hardly anybody would be interested in that opera, but now it is the talk of the town... I think I am in a very small minority who approved of the cancellation... It seems the only reason to defend this stupid opera is to avoid giving the impression of appeasement to the Islamofascists. That's not enough for me... To win the war on terrorism, we need to have moderate Muslims on our side... This opera, however, alienates the moderate Muslims and helps the fundamentalists.
Joerg also reminds us of the fuss made over My Name Is Rachel Corrie - a dull, right-on pamphlet of a play, I thought - after plans were announced for a New York transfer.