The ADC Australia’s leading civil rights organisation fighting hatred in all its forms, has welcomed the warning by Opera Australia (OA) alerting potential ticket buyers that its 2018 Melbourne production of Tosca “is set in Nazi-occupied Rome, and Nazi symbols, including swastikas and uniforms, are shown on stage.” This notice was added following a series of discussions between Opera Australia and ADC Chairman Dvir Abramovich in response to a number of complaints received by the ADC. The original Tosca takes place in Rome in 1800, and this production is the only one in the world to relocate this famous work to Nazi Europe.
ADC Chairman, Dr Dvir Abramovich, issued the following statement:
“This classic opera has nothing to do with the Holocaust, and most ticket buyers walking into the theatre would be unaware that they are about to be confronted with visceral scenes of Nazi soldiers marching on stage with the symbols, uniforms and flags that represent and glorify Hitler’s Germany. I am very worried that these realistic and shocking images would cause enormous emotional distress to those present, especially to Shoah survivors and their children for whom the pain is still very raw. We are pleased that Opera Australia listened to our concerns and addressed this matter, though there is still a strong possibility, because of the position and size of this notification, that some audience members may not see the warning and that this performance could bring back anguished memories and re-traumatise survivors.”
For further information please contact Dr Dvir Abramovich on 9272 5677.