Los Angeles opera scraps Cosi over racism claims

The Pacific Opera Project of LA has issued the following equivocation about its next production:

In unanimous agreement between board and staff, Pacific Opera Project has elected to change the setting of our March production of Cosi fan tutte. We recognize that some view a Gone with the Wind setting as offensive and we apologize for that offense. Appearing insensitive to these concerns is against everything POP stands for and damages our reputation as an inclusive and diverse company, something we have carefully cultivated over the past nine seasons with productions such as our Japanese/English Madama Butterfly and our Star Trek inspired Abduction from the Seraglio.

POP’s strongest quality has always been creativity — the ability to adapt and innovate to any location, circumstance, or constraint. We look forward to the challenge of reinventing a production, now only six weeks away. We’re confident that a POP Cosi — whether set traditionally, in the Civil War, or in outer space — will be one of the most accessible, affordable, and entertaining you have ever seen.

We thank our unwavering fans for your support during this time of transition and we look forward to seeing you at the show.