Berlin Opera House Loses 'Muhammad' Head

Friday, December 08, 2006

By STEPHEN GRAHAM, Associated Press Writer

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BERLIN — The opera house that dropped a production featuring the severed head of Muhammad over security fears suffered an embarrassing setback shortly before the disputed show resumes: It lost the offending prop.

The head of the Islamic prophet as well as those of Jesus, Buddha and Neptune that were used in the three-year-old production of Mozart's "Idomeneo" have gone missing, Deutsche Oper Berlin spokesman Alexander Busche said Friday, confirming a report in the Berliner Morgenpost newspaper.

"We can't find the heads at the moment, but that doesn't mean they have been stolen. We don't think that's the case," Busche said. "Either they will show up in the next few days, or we will have new ones made."

In September, Deutsche Oper head Kirsten Harms canceled Hans Neuenfels' interpretation of "Idomeneo" that had been scheduled for November following a vague security warning from police that the prop of Muhammad could incite Muslims.

After a storm of criticism over artistic freedom and an all-clear from police, the opera house rescheduled two performances for Dec. 18 and Dec. 29.

"What we can say is that, on the 18th, the work will be performed on stage with all the necessary props," Busche said.

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