Jerusalem - An Israeli arts festival yesterday dropped plans to stage an opera by Richard Wagner, Adolf Hitler's favourite composer, after a public outcry against performing his work in the Jewish state. Earlier this month organisers asked conductor Daniel Barenboim, who was to direct the rendition of Die Walkuere (The Valkyries) with tenor Placido Domingo and the Berlin Staatskapelle orchestra, to consider an alternative programme.
In a statement, the festival's management said it had changed "after taking into consideration requests that were made to the festival management by the President, the culture and sports minister, the mayor of Jerusalem and citizens".
The festival said Barenboim had agreed to stage a Schumann symphony and Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring instead.