Pornopera

Although pornography is not something one normally associates with either opera or the Swiss, it somehow comes as no shock that a Swiss opera production has thought fit to put a porn actor in Wagner, somebody one does associate after all with obscenity.

The Grand Théâtre de Genève under the direction of Olivier Py has hired the adult film actor known as HPG to perform in their production of Tannhäuser, his erect penis in full view of the elegant opera-adoring public.

He appears during the brief scene in the first act depicting the Rape of Europa as the Chorus of Sirens sing: "Approach the land,/where, in the arms of torrid love (glühender Liebe),/let blissful warmth/content your desires." In the role of the garlanded white bull, the porn actor appears on stage naked and aroused as he carries Europa away.

Asked why he needed to hire a porn actor for the short role, Py replied impishly, "Only a professional could guarantee there would be no mishaps every night."