Oscar winner sends his regrets to opera audience

The Austrian director Michael Haneke was in Los Angeles Sunday night to receive a best foreign film Oscar for Amour. He should have been in Madrid the night before for the opening of his new production of Cosi fan tutte. Here’s a note he left for the audience:

Dear attendees to the premiere:

I feel an obligation to express my apologies to you, even if only by means of this simple leaflet.

As some of you may have read in the press, the Oscars ceremony will take place tomorrow, 24th of February, in Los Angeles. I have the honour to have been nominated in five categories, and therefore I cannot miss such an important event for film makers. This is the reason why I had to fly to Los Angeles immediately after the general rehearsal. When we determined the date for the premiere of Così fan tutte, we did not expect these nominations. Therefore I hope I can count on your understanding for not being able to attend the premiere and receive personally your expressions of approval or disapproval.

I wish you an exciting evening!

If you enjoy it, cross your fingers for me for the Oscars. If you don’t, please cross them anyway!

Kind regards,

Michael Haneke

Madrid, 23rd of February 2013