Saturday, September 17, 2011

Thou Shall Not Oppose Israeli Apartheid: Orchestra suspends four musicians who opposed Israeli musicians' concert


London Philharmonic Orchestra punishes cellist and violinists who wanted Proms appearance by Israeli players cancelled

The Guardian

"The London Philharmonic Orchestra has suspended four musicians for nine months for using its name when they called unsuccessfully for the cancellation of a concert by an Israeli orchestra at the Proms.

The move follows the indefinite suspension of an unnamed LPO violinist after she allegedly launched an anti-Israel "rant" when Israeli musicians appeared at the Royal College of Music before the concert at the Royal Albert Hall earlier this month.

In a statement, Tim Walker, the LPO's chief executive, and Martin Hohmann, its chairman, said the suspensions sent "a strong and clear message that their actions will not be tolerated … the orchestra would never restrict the right of its players to express themselves freely, however such expression has to be independent of the LPO itself.

"The company has no wish to end the careers of four talented musicians but … for the LPO, music and politics do not mix [Wagner and Hitler would beg to differ!]."......"

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