Eighteen attendees at Stuttgart’s state opera in Germany needed medical help for severe nausea after a performance featuring live piercing, unsimulated sexual acts, and both fake and real blood. The distressing events happened during two weekend showings of Sancta, a provocative piece by Austrian choreographer Florentina Holzinger.
Sebastian Ebling, a spokesperson for the opera, stated, “On Saturday we had eight and on Sunday we had ten people who had to be looked after by our visitor service.” Medical professionals were called in three cases to provide treatment.
Holzinger, 38, is known for her boundary-pushing performances that blend dance theatre with vaudeville elements. Her all-female ensemble often performs partially or fully naked. Past works have included acts like sword-swallowing, tattooing, and using blood and fresh excrement in action paintings. In a recent interview, Holzinger noted, “Good technique in dance to me is not just someone who can do a perfect tendu, but also someone who can urinate on cue.”
SIE NENNEN ES KUNST!
Tatsächlich ist es in höchstem Maße abstoßend und dekadent.
An der Stuttgarter Oper löst die „Performance Sancta” einen Skandal aus.
Sex, Blut und Wunden. Die Show muss derart ekelerregend sein, dass Zuschauer kollabierten.pic.twitter.com/8izc3dLyOp
— Georg Pazderski (@Georg_Pazderski) October 11, 2024
Sancta, Holzinger’s first opera venture, debuted at Mecklenburg state theatre in Schwerin in May. It draws inspiration from Paul Hindemith’s expressionist opera Sancta Susanna, which has a controversial history.
Hindemith’s original opera, about a young nun whose arousal leads to sacrilege, was set to premiere at Stuttgart in 1921 but was delayed until the following year due to protests. Holzinger’s adaptation replaced the original score with naked nuns on a movable half-pipe and included shocking images like a wall of crucified naked bodies and a lesbian priest conducting mass.
After Holzinger’s presentation of Sancta in Vienna, bishops from Salzburg and Innsbruck labelled it a “disrespectful caricature of the holy mass.” Holzinger clarified that her work aims to explore the interaction between conservative institutions and kink communities, rather than mock the church.
Ebling advised potential attendees to thoroughly read performance warnings, which included triggers such as incense, loud noises, explicit sexual acts, and depictions of sexual violence. “If you have questions, speak to the visitor service,” he recommended. “And when in doubt during the performance, it might help to avert your gaze.”
Despite the unsettling incidents, the need for medical treatment did not harm the commercial success of Sancta. All five remaining performances at Stuttgart’s state opera, along with two November shows at Berlin’s Volksbühne, have sold out.
What Other Media Are Saying
- BroadwayWorld reports on a controversial opera performance of Paul Hindemith’s Sancta Susanna in Stuttgart, where 18 audience members needed medical assistance due to explicit content and intense scenes.(read more)
- Catholicherald.co.uk reports on an explicit anti-Catholic opera in Stuttgart, causing 18 audience members to require medical assistance due to its shocking and offensive content.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What happened to the attendees at the Stuttgart state opera?
Eighteen attendees needed medical help for severe nausea after watching the performance Sancta.
Who is the choreographer behind Sancta?
The choreographer is Florentina Holzinger, known for boundary-pushing performances.
What elements were included in the performance of Sancta?
Sancta included live piercing, unsimulated sexual acts, and both fake and real blood.
How did Holzinger describe her work’s intention?
Holzinger said her work explores the interaction between conservative institutions and kink communities.
Were the performances of Sancta commercially successful?
Yes, all remaining performances in Stuttgart and Berlin have sold out.
