LGBT activists protest homophobic censhorship at Greek National Opera
13/04/2009
Submitted by
Themis Katsagiannis
Members of the orchestra of the Greek National Opera censored the opera Rusalka, because of a kiss between two of the male protagonists.
The french director Marion Wasserman directed the opera in a way that portrays the life of king Ludwig the second of Bavaria, who was torn between his homosexuality and his obligations as king. For Marion Wasserman the part of the fairy in the opera represented the female side of the king and so was portrayed by a man, hence the gay kiss.
Members of the orchestra reacted heavily and put pressure on the director to remove the kiss or they would not perform. The director retreated and the Governing Body of the orchestra passed out flyers on the premier to the people who were entering for the performance. The flyer characterized the gay kiss as an "extreme scene".
The following day, March 7, lgbt activists protested against the homophobic censorship of the orchestra, outside the building of the Greek National Opera. The flyer was being distributed again and the activists decided to enter the building to read a text of their position to the audience. In the incident that followed members of the orchestra cursed at, threatened and hit activists, while the audience had mixed reactions. The activists were not able to read their position.
Many press publications followed, and the president of the Governing Body of the orchestra, Theodoros Mavromatis, supported the orchesra's actions. He said "we would have reacted the same, if it were an extreme scene of rape", therefore equating a gay kiss with rape.
The orchestra was criticised for censoring a work of art and imposing its position on a matter that was only at the discretion of the director. Moreover, the administration of the National Opera (a public organization) was criticised for keeping a neutral stance and not forcing the orchestra musicians to uphold their obligations as public servants.
A week after the first, a second protest took place this time without entering the building.
It was the first time the opera Rusalka was performed in Greece, after a cooperation between the Greek National Opera and the Opera of Nice.
Following these events a number of lgbt organizations and media sent an austere letter of complaint to the Greek National Opera, citing its legal obligations on the matter. The incident was also denounced to the Greek Ombudsman who acts as the equality body for sexual orientation in Greece. Neither have replied.
Watch the video of the first protest: http://www.tvxs.gr/v6901
The french director Marion Wasserman directed the opera in a way that portrays the life of king Ludwig the second of Bavaria, who was torn between his homosexuality and his obligations as king. For Marion Wasserman the part of the fairy in the opera represented the female side of the king and so was portrayed by a man, hence the gay kiss.
Members of the orchestra reacted heavily and put pressure on the director to remove the kiss or they would not perform. The director retreated and the Governing Body of the orchestra passed out flyers on the premier to the people who were entering for the performance. The flyer characterized the gay kiss as an "extreme scene".
The following day, March 7, lgbt activists protested against the homophobic censorship of the orchestra, outside the building of the Greek National Opera. The flyer was being distributed again and the activists decided to enter the building to read a text of their position to the audience. In the incident that followed members of the orchestra cursed at, threatened and hit activists, while the audience had mixed reactions. The activists were not able to read their position.
Many press publications followed, and the president of the Governing Body of the orchestra, Theodoros Mavromatis, supported the orchesra's actions. He said "we would have reacted the same, if it were an extreme scene of rape", therefore equating a gay kiss with rape.
The orchestra was criticised for censoring a work of art and imposing its position on a matter that was only at the discretion of the director. Moreover, the administration of the National Opera (a public organization) was criticised for keeping a neutral stance and not forcing the orchestra musicians to uphold their obligations as public servants.
A week after the first, a second protest took place this time without entering the building.
It was the first time the opera Rusalka was performed in Greece, after a cooperation between the Greek National Opera and the Opera of Nice.
Following these events a number of lgbt organizations and media sent an austere letter of complaint to the Greek National Opera, citing its legal obligations on the matter. The incident was also denounced to the Greek Ombudsman who acts as the equality body for sexual orientation in Greece. Neither have replied.
Watch the video of the first protest: http://www.tvxs.gr/v6901
