28. Für die Seele, nicht den Körper

In einem anderen Artikel der gleichen Ausgabe der Al-Ahram wird eine Produktion des Genfer Balletts zu Umm Kultoum und Strawinsky als unangemessen „oversexed“ kritisiert:

Umm Kulthoum’s songs have always been, and still are considered by all Egyptians as food for the soul and not the body. Lyrics of Umm Kulthoum’s songs are often words of love, based on classical Arabic poetry, or on poems especially written for her songs. The great Egyptian Diva, furthermore, was extremely selective about the lyrics she finally decided to sing: her quarrels with many of her famous writers regarding a single word she wanted changed, have made history.

Zu John Neumeiers Interpretation von Strawainskys Sacre de printemps heißt es abschließend:

Neumeier’s may be a realistic vision of today’s society, but it is absolutely out of place on Cairo Opera’s main stage. More refinement would have been advisable.

/ April 2004