Messiah is cancelled at school ‘due to religious content’
NewsThere is a public outcry in Finland after a junior school in Uusima cancelled a concert of Handel’s Messiah by the Finnish Baroque Orchestra and the Helsinki Chamber Choir, apparently out of anxiety that its religious themes might offend some students.
It seems the school was aware of a recent case in Hämeenlinna, where a school had to pay 1,500 Euros for hurt feelings to a student’s mother who objected to hearing a song with Jesus’ name in it.
Neither school has made any comment, but politicians and bishops are raising a storm and the organiser of the concert said, ‘we have fallen out of a tree’.
‘What kind of society is it where schoolchildren don’t get to hear a baroque concert and get to know cultural history?’ demanded Social Security Minister Sanni Grahn-Laasonen.
Read more here.
Hopefully, this Messiah will have a second coming.
We all know where this is going. Amsterdam coming to a village near you before you know it, but let’s all say the real threat comes from the ‘Far Right’ (sic).
Oh Tony, Tony… usually the anti-christianism and fear of Jesus is coming from the woke-leftist brainrot-ideology.
Nobody on the right ever complains about the presence of tradition and christianity.
One does not need to be a rightwinger to not complain about the presence of tradition and christianity.
Split American infinity!!
OK then, I think you’ve missed the irony in Anthoiny’s comment. We’re all taught to passot ‘far right, far right’, when the truth is the real threat is coming from somewhere else altogether.
Yes. It’s almost as bad as the right banning positive reference to gay folks in schools.
Predictable GB News-type reaction.
Shhh! Better not let on that Finlandia is used as a hymn in Christian services
Ha, ha!!
I’m rather glad that I know the Finnish text so that now I can block out the other words which the misuse of the piece during my childhood used to put into my head. Unfortunately, most other greats hijacked by church use don’t have original texts in the same way.
It’s in English; they didn’t understand the text anyway!! Doah.
You condescending cow. The Finns probably speak better English than you do. In the best-educated society in the world, one of the things they makes sure of is that their people can communicate in what is (currently) the dominant language.
You would doubtless profess to be a Christian. Most of your posts here are utterly devoid of any semblance of real Christianity. I would advise you to repair to the Gospels in the run-up to the Nativity.
They have far better English than the English or the British, and even more so than Americans!!
They “had” to pay to someone who objected to hearing Jesus name in a song? Why did they pay out it’s ridiculous? Who complained and what was their religion? Jesus is recognised in the Muslim faith so can’t be them. A Christian fundamentalist? Bizarre.
No fundamentalist would complain as the entire words of Messiah are based from the Bible. Interesting that even hardened atheists like Richard Dawkins and the late Jonathan Miller appreciate great religious works of art so who knows what cranky view has been indulged.
What religion would object to hearing jesus’s name? Certainly not Christians or Islam.
People of no religion, perhaps. There are some and they are absolutely real human beings.
Nor Jews – after all you have Jews for Jesus movement, and some of our Rabbis in England, whatever about anywhere else, even went to Christian schools.
“Jews for Jesus” can hardly be described as Jews: they are really believers in Jesus who maintain Jewish practises (just like the original believers in Jesus). Rabbinic Jews could, I suppose, object. But it would be a bit churlish.
I used to believe that lunacy was not infectious. I am now beginning to doubt it. It seems to be spreading faster than Covid 19. Its victim is western civilisation.
Covid19 is a Chinese virus designed to undermine the West. Proof: America.
They did not fall from a tree, but straight down the rabbit hole.
‘What kind of society is it where schoolchildren don’t get to hear a baroque concert and get to know cultural history?’ demanded Social Security Minister Sanni Grahn-Laasonen. I’ll tell you what kind – the kind where leftists get to live outside of SuperMax asylums.
Absolutely priceless!!
Wokerati gone absolutely nuts.
It was despised and rejected.
Why do the nations so furiously rage together, and why do the people imagine a vain thing?
The kings of the earth rise up, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord, and against His anointed.
Unrelated question for Russia historians…
Was Messiah ever performed or recorded in the Soviet Union?
Not just preformed, they had it on the records
https://5×86.ru/i_shop/audio_photo_video/vinyl_records/K578358
That’s a Melodiya pressing of the 1961 Boult/LSO Decca recording…
Yes, they are Orthodox Christians. Just because Easter and Christmas come a week later than the West, doesn’t mean they don’t celebrate or sing Messiah, probably translated into Russian as it is in Kenya into Swahili, and works very well.
What the @*#% did they THINK a piece called “Messiah” was about in the first place?!
Life of Brian!!! He’s not the Messiah; he’s just a naughty boy! Remember that???
I don’t know which are more disgusting, the nutcases who go into hysterics over any thought that disturbs them or the pusillanimous administrators who kowtow to them.
The latter. Rabble-rousers have always tried it on, but those in charge kowtowing is relatively new. Especially when the demands are so nonsensical, and so destructive of values and intellectual developments that have lasted as long as civilisation.
The end.
I applaud this school’s efforts, even if it means the students miss out on some great music. There’s enough enforced religion in this world, and it’s about time we think more of those who don’t subscribe to these views. Here in the U.S., large swaths of the south have come close to sanctioning a state religion. The Finns know better.
Judging by the attendance at Messiahs the world over, I do not think we are looking at forced religion. FYI, much of the very greatest music in the entire canon has religious themes. All non-believers have to do it see it as someone else’s myth and revel in the music.
You haven’t a clue!
Who hasn’t and about what, exactly?
Actually the Finnish Lutheran Church is a State Church, so before you reveal your ignorance of the way the rest of the world functions, you should do some research.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_of_Finland#:~:text=The%20Evangelical%20Lutheran%20Church%20of,the%20Lutheran%20branch%20of%20Christianity.
Enforced religion? You don’t object to enforced secularism then I notice!
Enforced secularism–at least, as I know it in the UK–typically leaves religious people free to worship and live out their religion in their own lives, whereas enforced religion typically requires everyone to live by the beliefs of the religious.
Wait…we get to play another oratorio besides the Messiah?
HALLELUJAH.
Not a different oratorio — same issues. Instead, the soundtrack to “Jonathan Livingston Seagull” most likely.
Hmmm…this time of year….the Bach Christmas is out. How about the Elijah? But oops…would they have to edit out the aria Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel?
Could we please stop letting these people censor our lives?
As in any of this, just revel in the glorious music and ignore the words if they bother you. Seems mighty odd to me that some poor, deluded soul with a bee in their bonnet could wreak such nonsensical havoc. Next time just tell them to bugger off and get a life.
I’m a performer and most definitely don’t subscribe to any religion but I regularly find myself playing religious music. If it was written with sincerity and has stood the test of time then play it! I freely admit that occasionally I chuckle at the nonsense of it- read the words of Gerontius for starters.But it’s simply some of Elgar’s finest work and he meant it sincerely. So play it and enjoy the masterpiece. Life’s too short to get upset by such trivial worries.
Diffcult to comment, it’s half tragedy and half comedy. Besides, Jesus Christ is recognized as a Rabbi and is quoted in the Koran as one of the Prophets, so what’s the problem, besides the perverted idiocy of some Finn bureaucrats?
Finland will get over it. The world will get over it, and many years from now, if there is still a world standing, with a chorus and an orchestra capable of performing it, the world will re-discover “The Messiah” and experience it for what it is: a magnificent piece of music written by a certifiable genius. In the meantime, those of us who love or hate it will/will not attend any number of performances offered.
Hasn’t anyone pointed out the fact that the name “Jesus” is never actually mentioned in Handel’s Messiah? Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe Jesus’ name is always only alluded to or implied. So the school could easily have gotten away with this.
Quite correct! The whole thing is based on ignorance. People want ignorance to prevail as these are the new Dark Ages.
If you want to see heads (and other things) explode, announce that you are performing Judas Maccabeus instead.
They need to cover up the nekkid women in Renaissance paintings for these ‘special people’.
No, they need to burn all non-secular renaissance paintings. In best Mao tradition.
An Imam I knew said that this sort of thing does not come from Muslims who recognise Jesus as a prophet. It’s most likely come from a secularist source.
At school, Jews, Roman Catholics, etc., were readily excused our Protestant daily assemblies. Surely the Finnish objectors can also be excused – or just stay away – from attending the performance? (I bet there wouldn’t be many!)
I remember an “obligatory” teenage torment school outing to hear the Hallé choir and orchestra unexpurgated 3hr. Messiah (all repeats no cuts version.) Other schools went to Alton Towers Theme Park. I would like my money back.
It is clear there are forces in the western world, aiming to destroy our whole European culture! Don’t give up, but keep performing! Furthermore: Jesus is King of kings, Lord of Lords! People who don’t want to hear: just stay home, there is no obligation to attend a concert!!!
They are not permitted to hear one of the greatest musical compositions of all time because of small minded people?
Oy gevalt. What’s the matter with these people?