Mastodon Christoph von Dohnányi refuses to conduct at Hungary's State Opera - The Wagnerian

Christoph von Dohnányi refuses to conduct at Hungary's State Opera

Written By The Wagnerian on Monday 24 October 2011 | 1:16:00 am

Hungary's State Opera says German conductor Christoph von Dohnanyi has canceled a pair of appearances to protest the appointment of a theater director linked to far-right groups.

Dohnanyi said in a letter released Friday by the Hungarian State Opera that he does not want to "appear in a city whose mayor entrusted the direction of a theater to two known, extreme right-wing anti-Semites."




Das Rheingold: Zur Burg führt die Brücke" 
Christoph von Dohnányi - The Cleveland Orchestra
Robert Hale (Wotan), Hanna Schwarz (Fricka), Kim Begley (Loge), Thomas Sunnegardh (Froh), Gabriele Fontana (Woglinde), Ildiko Komlosi (Wellgunde), Margareta Hintermeier (Flosshilde)


Mayor Istvan Tarlos' recent appointment of Gyorgy Dorner was widely criticized by Jewish organizations, as well as a large group of directors of other Budapest theaters.

Dorner has named Istvan Csurka, a playwright and former lawmaker known for anti-Semitic speeches and articles, as his deputy.

The Opera said it was considering suing Dohnanyi for compensation.

Source: SF Gate