Dodgy Dresden Ball honours a military dictator

Dodgy Dresden Ball honours a military dictator

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norman lebrecht

January 26, 2020

The Dresden Semper Opera Ball, shadowed by recent allegations of fomenting hatred, will today award the Order of St. George in Cairo to the Egyptian dictator Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

The Ball’s artistic director Hans-Joachim Frey said: ‘Our motto for the St. George’s order is ‘Adverso Flumine – Gegen den Strom’. That means we also make decisions that are very important for future developments.’ Apparently, bankrupt Egypt is building a new opera house.

Saxony’s Economics Minister Martin Dulig (SPD) called the decision shameful. He said: ‘Those who want to honour an autocrat and oppressor like Al-Sisi for PR reasons are acting irresponsibly.’

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