Stuttgart – Sex, violence, real blood. The controversial opera performance Sancta at the Opera Stuttgart is so disturbing that 18 spectators required first aid.
18 spectators reached their limits at Sancta – they needed help. © Stuttgart State Opera/Matthias Baus
Rows of spectators faint and the opera house issues a “trigger warning.”
The opera performance Sancta causes shock in Stuttgart. According to information from “Stuttgarter Zeitung“Since the premiere last weekend, 18 people have had to be cared for by visitor services, and in three cases the doctor even had to be called.
What is shown? You can see, among other things, lesbian sex, Christian customs that are ridiculed, plenty of fake blood (but also real, as the opera assures) and rape scenes. It goes without saying that the performance is only open to those aged 18 and over.
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The Stuttgart Opera was nevertheless forced to publish a so-called “trigger warning” to warn sensitive viewers about the sexual violence and retraumatization shown.
“This performance shows explicit sexual acts as well as depictions and descriptions of (sexual) violence. Real blood as well as fake blood, piercing procedures and the infliction of a wound can also be seen.”
Florentina Holzinger (38) brought Sancta onto the stage. © Jens Büttner/dpa
Sancta was staged by the celebrated Austrian performance artist Florentina Holzinger (38).
“With her performers* she goes into physical borderline experiences and explores individual spirituality and faith, sexuality and pain, shame and liberation. Magic and religious miracles are reinterpreted in an ecstatic celebration of community and self-determination,” explains the Stuttgart Opera in a statement Press release.
Holzinger’s work is a new interpretation of the opera “Sancta Susanna” by the composer Paul Hindemith (1895 – 1963). It tells the story of the nun Susanna and her suppressed desires.
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Already at its premiere in 1922, The Sacrifices caused a real scandal and was perceived by many critics as blasphemous.
