AP News, June 20th, 2007
La Scala opera house has lifted its cancellation of a production of "Candide" that included a scene in which actors depicting President Bush and other world leaders danced in their underwear.
Director Robert Carsen said there would be some modifications to the production, which was to open Wednesday night, but that the underwear scene would remain. He denied that censorship or political pressure played any role in the changes.
"I wouldn't be here now if there had been any pressure because that would be against the spirit of freedom in this opera," Carsen said, according to the news agency ANSA.
La Scala announced in December it was canceling Carsen's production of Bernstein's opera because it "was not in line" with the venerable opera house's artistic program.
The production includes a scene of actors wearing masks of world leaders including Bush, Blair and former Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi wearing underwear displaying their national flags. The scene drew criticism from conservative Italian media.
The Canadian-born Carsen told reporters Wednesday that any uproar over world leaders in their underwear was misplaced because the briefs were actually bathing suits and the leaders are depicted as being on vacation.
He said other changes were made to the show to conform with La Scala's musical tradition. Some of the choreography and dialogue _ including a joke about pedophile priests _ was cut along with two musical numbers to shorten the show because it was too long for La Scala.
Carsen's production of "Candide," a musical adaptation of Voltaire's satire against eternal optimism, was a huge success in Paris where it was staged at the Theatre du Chatelet.
