Name: Opera Sextronique

Date:  1951 - 1975

Location:  North America

Subject:  Nudity

Medium:  Music

Artist: Nam June Paik

Confronting Bodies: Charlotte Moorman versus New York

Date of Action: 1967

Specific Location: Filmmakers' Cinematheque, New York City

Description of Artwork: An opera in four movements, performed by violoncellist Charlotte Moorman. The composer's instructions required Ms. Moorman to play in various states of partial and total nudity.



Description of Incident: The NY premiere performance was interrupted midway by the arrest of Ms. Moorman by NY police.



Results of Incident: The performance was canceled; a trial found Ms. Moorman guilty; she received a suspended sentence. The trial was reenacted 10 years later at Carnegie Hall.



Source: Andrew Gurian

Submitted By: Andrew Gurian

 





	


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