The slug on Ms. Waleson’s review of the Met’s production of John Adams’s controversial opera, The Death of Klinghoffer, which depicts the murder of Leon Klinghoffer on a cruise ship in 1985 by Palestinian terrorists, is “This production makes it clear: John Adams’s opera is neither anti-Semitic nor anti-Israel. It does not condone terrorism.” Is it possible to create an artistic work depicting the murder of a man because he is Jewish that is not intrinsically anti-Jewish? If the killers are Palestinian terrorists and they are motivated by hatred of Jews and Israel is it possible for it not to be anti-Israel?
I had hoped to learn the answers to these questions but after having read Ms. Waleson’s bland review of the Met’s production, I am left unsatisfied. I may never know the answers.
Well, in her mind she covered it pretty clearly:
Tom Morris’s powerful production that opened at the Metropolitan Opera on Monday (it had its debut at the English National Opera in 2012) makes those things eminently clear by delving beyond the sometimes obscure, baroque text of Alice Goodman’s libretto to arrive at the musical heart of the work, which is about the depth of historical resentment, and how it drives people to commit heinous acts.
So it’s historical resentment rather than the quest for statehood and justice that makes the opera ‘safe’.
Obviously, for the idiots protesting, knowledge of reasons why Palestinians might resent Israel is enough to make anything anti-Israel.
I saw the Sellars’ Nixon in China several years ago. The music was okay, though if you don’t like or can’t tolerate minimalism, you are in trouble. But it was very boring to look at and when I think of Adams’ operas I really think of that look. It sounds like the Met shook that up. Their abstract stuff worked with something like Tristan or Moses and Aron but minimalist music does not need that in the background.
That’s a hollow rationalization. Mr. Klinghoffer wasn’t an Israeli. He was singled out because he was a Jew. If she (and you) are saying it’s because of a historic resentment against Jews, you’re making their point for the demonstrators.