American actor Timothée Chalamay sparked controversy with his public statements expressing disinterest in opera and ballet. This prompted Germany's State Minister for Culture, Wolfram Vimeer, to invite the Hollywood star to Germany in an attempt to change his mind. In an interview with the German newspaper 'Rheinische Post', Vimeer said, 'Anyone who has not experienced ballet or opera up close and directly may misjudge it.' He added that Germany is 'a world leader' in the fields of orchestras, opera houses, and dance companies. Major opera houses, including the Bavarian State Opera, responded to his remarks with a mix of humor and criticism. In this context, Chalamaye stated that he has no interest in working in fields such as opera or ballet, describing them as 'things people say: keep them alive even though no one cares anymore.' Vimeer, in turn, 'enthusiastically' invited Chalamaye, during his next visit to Germany, to 'visit one of our great concert halls or musical theaters, talk to the artists and watch them perform at a high level.' He continued, 'Chalamaye will immediately feel the magic of opera and the beauty of dance. And after that, he will have no choice but to say: that was really great.' It is worth noting that Chalamaye (30 years old) is nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor for his role in the film 'Marty Suprem'. During a conversation that lasted about 90 minutes, he discussed various issues with his colleague, actor Matthew McConaughey (56 years old), including the future of the film industry and the public's interest in films.
