Who knew? Such goings on in the high brow and high note world of opera! First of all, the entire cast of La Traviata at Opéra Bastille in Paris refused to go on in the second act because there was a woman sitting in the front row wearing a full face veil. An attendant was despatched and asked her to leave pointing out that wearing a niqab is actually illegal in the land of 'Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité'. Should I surrender to the constant pleas of my adoring public and take to the stage again I might mount a similar campaign against gentlemen - I use the term loosely - who fail to wear a tie!
Meanwhile, 'over there in 'Noo Yawk' the current production at the Metropolitan Opera is "The Death of Klinghoffer", an opera based on the disgusting murder of an elderly and crippled American Jew by terrorists abord the SS Achille Lauro in 1985. This has caused demonstrations both inside and outside the opera house. I have a sneaking suspicion that the demonstrations might actually be more entertaining than the opera itself!
