Operatic School for Scandal 1

Rape at the Opera

“…In the 2019/2020 season, Don Giovanni was the eighth most performed opera worldwide with 662 performances of 129 different productions. 62 This is an opera that is widely beloved, even by many of its harshest critics, and its continued popularity feels assured. An ethically informed approach to the production and reception of this opera entails facing the issues presented by the opera directly, through the lens of our own Zeitgeist.…”

“…Levin says of the dance choreography, " [Salome] is whirled about overhead, and in the process, her figure remonstrates with the frantic melodramatic gestures of early twentieth-century modernist dance-theater." 62 The movement is all highly stylized, but within that framework we see dancer-Salome kicking and writhing as she is violated. Still, the beauty of this ballet gives me pause.…”

“…transform the female body into a symbol of the suffering nation, a physical representation of the horrific consequences of Catholic, Cavalier, Whig, Tory, Dutch, or Stuart rule." 62 In these productions of Ballo and Tell, we see little to no military combat on stage. Instead, we see acts of sexual violence that illustrate the power and dominance of a military force over a vulnerable enemy.…”