
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, July 20, 1990                   TAG: 9007200617
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A/2   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK                                LENGTH: Short

DIRECTOR ANGRY THAT NUDITY MAY POSE THREAT TO OPERA FUNDING

Director Joseph Papp is infuriated that New York City Opera officials fear a federal grant could be revoked because a fall production includes three naked virgins.

"This is the beginning of self-censorship," said Papp, director of the New York Shakespeare Festival.

"This is a case of a valuable creative organization forced to watch its own rear because of the Jesse Helms-inspired restrictions now on the books," said Papp.

Helms, a Republican senator from North Carolina, has led efforts to restrict federal funding for art some consider obscene.

An opera company official fears the virgins' presence in "Moses und Aron" could violate new obscenity guidelines issued last week by the National Endowment for the Arts.

NEA spokesman Virginia Falck said it was unlikely the virgins will lead to problems. But the opera company was taking the issue seriously.

"Moses und Aron" is set to debut Sept. 22.

The unfinished opera by Austrian composer Arnold Schoenberg is an unlikely target for any obscenity rap; the piece is considered one of the 20th century's masterpieces.

by CNB