Row over pianist’s Gaza claims
The MSO stated a review "would provide transparency" for musicians, management, employees and subscribers.
For Jewish concert-goer Janette Fonda, her daughter’s gift of a ticket to the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) became a nightmare when a pianist made public remarks to the audience about the Israel-Gaza war.
The incident has sparked a dispute between the orchestra, a union, MSO subscribers, and the Jewish community, with the MSO announcing a review into its procedures.
At the August 18 recital, Australian pianist Jayson Gillham played a short piece, Witness, by composer Connor D’Netto, which he told the audience, was dedicated to “the journalists of Gaza”. He reportedly had approval to include it, but it is unclear whether management understood the political context.
Gillham introduced the music with an unverified claim that 113 Palestinian journalists have been killed by Israeli strikes since the war began and “a number of these have been targeted assassinations”. He added, “The killing of journalists is a war crime in international law, and it is done in an effort to prevent the documentation and broadcasting of war crimes to the world.”
The IDF has emphatically stated it does not target journalists, which it acknowledges as a war crime under the Geneva Convention.
For Fonda, Gillham’s accusations were incendiary. “I was debating whether to stand up and scream and walk out, or stay there,” she told The AJN. “I decided to stay but … I was frightened, intimidated. I thought it was really inappropriate.”
After the concert, Fonda complained at the ticket desk, as did other audience members.
Days later, the MSO deleted Gillham from its programming and apologised. However, the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance union called its response “offensive to the principles of artistic expression” and said, “It has caused enormous hurt and distress to Jayson and is disrespectful to his fellow musicians – and to our journalist colleagues in Gaza.”
After protests from staff and some subscribers, the MSO called its decision “an error” and reinstated Gillham. MSO musicians passed a no-confidence motion in managing director Sophie Galaise and COO Guy Ross.
The MSO stated a review “would provide transparency” for musicians, management, employees and subscribers.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Peter Wertheim stated, “The MSO got it right the first time. People attend concerts to relax and appreciate the music, not to be drawn unexpectedly into a political rally.
“It is wrong for an artist like Mr Gillham to exploit the occasion by forcing his audience to listen to his highly questionable political views on a subject about which he has no special knowledge or expertise.”
comments