Festive farewell Anne-Marie Korte: Blasfemie in de opera?

What made the 2021 performance of Handel’s Theodora in Argentina so controversial? On 4 June, Professor of Religion and Gender Anne-Marie Korte will bid farewell with her final lecture: ‘Blasfemie in de opera? Controverse over queer theologie in Handels Theodora (Buenos Aires, 2021)’ (‘Blasphemy in Opera? Controversy over Queer Theology in Handel’s Theodora (Buenos Aires, 2021)’).

Controversial performance 

In 2021, Argentina’s largest opera house, the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, staged Handel’s oratory Theodora, incorporating excerpts from the work of Argentine-British queer theologian Marcella Althaus-Reid in this oratory. The performance aimed to bring the sung story of the early Christian martyr Theodora into conversation with Althaus-Reid’s contemporary voice, as a kind of WhatsApp conversation.

Public reaction to the performance was unexpectedly strong: the Argentine Bishops’ Conference condemned the performance as blasphemous and the Argentine Association of Catholic Lawyers called for an immediate halt to the performances. This was opposed by a group of artists and performers who strongly protested against the censorship imposed by these Catholic authorities.

What made this performance of Handel’s Theodora so controversial? And what was at stake for the various people involved? Through an analysis of the events, Korte provides insight into the history and future of her field: gender studies in religion. The lecture will be given in Dutch.

Reception and cortege

The lecture and subsequent speeches will be followed by a reception at Utrecht University Hall. Professors are cordially invited to join the cortege and gather in the Senate Hall of Utrecht University Hall no later than 15:45. Gowns are available.