Mozart opera raises hackles

A Mozart opera modernized to feature prostitutes, full-frontal nudity, drugs and sadistic violence has created a storm in Berlin.

The premiere of “The Abduction From the Seraglio” at the Komische Oper last week was met with shouts of “Scandal!” and “That’s not Mozart!” and threats by opera house sponsor DaimlerChrysler that it would pull its $24,000 annual funding.

“The overall depiction of sex and violence is absolutely unacceptable,” Matthias Kleinert, an advisor to DaimlerChrysler president and chief executive Juergen Schrempp, told the Bild daily.

The production, from Spanish director Calixto Bieito, moves the comic opera from an 18th century Turkish palace to a brothel, full of forced prostitution, drug abuse and violence.

The performance has its supporters, and the opera house has reported strong turnouts.