On 26 September 2006 the Deutsche Oper Berlin announced the cancellation of four performances of Mozart's opera Idomeneo, re di Creta, planned for November 2006, citing concerns that the production's depictions of the severed head of the Islamic prophet Muhammad raised an "incalculable security risk".
[1] The cancelled performances were revivals of a 2003 Idomeneo production, directed by Hans Neuenfels, which added a final scene in which King Idomeneo staggering on stage carrying a bag of the severed heads of Neptune, Jesus, and Buddha and placing each on chairs; a departure from the libretto, in which the action is set in the aftermath of the Trojan War and only Neptune features in the plot.
[3] The cancellation sparked a great deal of debate in Europe on the issue of self-censorship and the nature of free speech in a multicultural community that includes potentially violent Muslims.
[5] On 18 December 2006, the Berlin Opera staged Mozart's work with the newly added controversial ending scene amid mixed reactions, but no incidents (with a small security force and large foreign media contingent).
Demonstrators were present outside, as well, including supporters of religious tolerance and Christian protesters (presumably relating to the inclusion of the severed head of Jesus).