An opera about the Spanish conquest of the Americans has opened in Madrid, Spain, and includes a controversial scene.

According to The New York Times, actors who portray Indians are gunned down by Spanish soldiers during The Indian Queen. The director of the piece, Peter Sellars, defended the scene.

Patrons who responded negatively “don’t understand that a work like this is about trying to complete a journey together through difficult issues and history," Sellers told the paper.

“This is an epic story and unlike extremist political parties that want to simplify everything, I want people to understand that long and intricate histories need to be understood as such," Sellers added.

According to the Times, some patrons booed and walked out during the opera. But the opening night ended with a standing ovation, the paper said.

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Spain’s Conquest of America as Opera (The New York Times 11/21)