Berlin — Some 80 members of the Bavarian State Opera have refused to join its tour of Japan next Friday because of radiation concerns posed by the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant, sources close to the Munich-based opera company said Saturday.The 400-member group, will replace the nonparticipating members with auxiliary members and other artists.
Those who refuse to travel to Japan will be taking nonpaid holidays during the tour period, they said.
The company,, will airlift drinking water from Germany to Japan, while radiation experts in Germany will accompany it on the Japanese tour to gauge radiation levels in the members' meals, they said.
The planned opera tour is one of the events being organized to mark the 150th anniversary of the start of exchanges between Japan and Germany. The performances on the 18-day tour through Oct. 10 will include "Lohengrin" and "Ariadne auf Naxos"
Source Japan Times
