Paul Hindemith's Controversial Opera Scene Featuring a Rare Household Item

What household item caused controversy in German composer Paul Hindemith's opera Neues vom Tage?

The scene in Paul Hindemith's comic opera Neues vom Tage that caused controversy in 1929 featured a toilet. Which household item remains relatively rare in opera?

Answer:

The household item that caused controversy in Hindemith's opera Neues vom Tage is the "toilet."

German composer Paul Hindemith stirred up controversy in 1929 with his comic opera Neues vom Tage. The scene that prompted the controversy featured a toilet, which is a relatively rare household item in opera but not in singing as a whole.

The inclusion of a toilet on stage was viewed as scandalous and inappropriate at the time. However, Hindemith used the toilet as a symbol of modernity and progress, challenging traditional notions of acceptability in opera. Despite the initial backlash, Neues vom Tage became one of Hindemith's most successful works.

Today, the toilet scene in Neues vom Tage is recognized as an important moment in the evolution of modern opera, showcasing Hindemith's innovative and daring approach to music and storytelling.