Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Hundreds Protest Met Opera's Performance of 'The Death of Klinghoffer'

By Emily Frost | October 21, 2014 7:51am
 The 1991 opera is offensive and anti-semitic, protesters, who gathered in the hundreds, said. 
Protesters Call for Met to Ban "The Death of Klinghoffer"
View Full Caption

LINCOLN SQUARE — The Metropolitan Opera’s opening night performance of “The Death of Klinghoffer" brought hordes of protesters outraged at a show they say glorifies terrorism and anti-Semitism.

The performance Monday night also brought a heightened police presence to Lincoln Center, with dozens of officers on hand to guard the entry of opera-goers and keep the peace. 

The opera, by John Adams, tells the story of the Palestinian Liberation Front's hijacking of a cruise ship and the murder of Leon Klinghoffer, a Jewish man who used a wheelchair.

Throughout the protest, which was organized by a coalition of Jewish organizations, speakers urged those assembled to chant “Shame on Gelb,” referring to Peter Gelb, the Met’s general manager. Protesters held high signs that read "propaganda masquerading as art" and "I am Leon Klingoffer," and wore yellow stars with the words “Never Again" stitched on them. 

Former elected officials, including New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Gov. David Paterson, and current leaders including Congressman Eliot Engle and Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, were among those who lent their support.

Mayor de Blasio was not present, prompting some protesters to chant, “where’s the mayor?”

The mayor’s office did not return a request for comment regarding his absence, but at a press conference Monday morning he defended the Met's decision in the name of freedom of speech, according to The New York Times

“This is not about free speech, it’s about poor taste,” said Congressman Eliot Engle, calling the Met’s choice a “terrible disgrace.”

One couple, Jack Weinberg, 76, and his wife Nancy, who did not give her age, were season ticket holders at the opera for 40 years, but held high a sign that said they would never attend again because of its decision to perform "The Death of Klinghoffer."

"This opera is so offensive, it's incomprehensible to me that the Met would put this performance on," he said, adding that the opera humanizes the horrific actions of the PLO. 

But giving up their long support was "heartbreaking," said Nancy Weinberg.

Former Gov. Paterson acknowledged the fury of the crowd.

“The anger that you can feel mirrors what the citizens of New York City and the country feel about this horrible situation that’s about to happen,” said Paterson, who added that the work portrayed “a community that is loathsome and despicable.”

In a statement, the Met said there are numerous inaccuracies swirling around the opera.

"'Klinghoffer' is neither anti-Semitic nor does it glorify terrorism... We firmly believe that artistic explorations of politically charged subjects should be presented to the public without fear of censorship," the statement said.