Still Running Off at the Keyboard

Erotic love verges on the pornographic in a fascinating if flawed production of German composer Richard Wagner's Tannhaeuser at Geneva's Grand Theatre - an experiment appreciated by spectators if less so by critics.

Swedish soprano Nina Stemme excelled as Elisabeth, the heroine of Wagner's 3 1/2-hour opera, and the audience was left at times spellbound by French director Olivier Py's staging. But Py's most provocative element in this new production - one minute featuring a nude male porn star - fell flat, sparking little reaction from spectators.

"It wasn't shocking," said Anita Brueckmann, who was in the audience for Monday night's second performance. "It wasn't very important to the work."

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