The management of arts companies in Australia has come under intense scrutiny in recent weeks due to a huge fracas at Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, resulting in a legal battle between the orchestra and Australian-British classical pianist Jayson Gillham, and the abrupt departure of Jo Davies from her position as Artistic Director of Opera Australia.

The ongoing controversy at MSO began when Gillham performed the world premiere of a work by Connor D’Netto called Witness at a recital for MSO in Iwaki Auditorium on 11 August.

Jayson Gillham. Photo © Rémi Chauvin

Before playing it, Gillham told the audience that the piece was dedicated to journalists killed in the conflict in Gaza. The next day, MSO issued a statement saying that Gillham had been removed from an upcoming performance of Brahms and Beethoven on 15 August, following audience complaints. This, despite the fact that Gillham gave historically informed introductions to all the pieces on the program, including a work by Ligeti in which he noted that Ligeti’s family were victims of the Holocaust.

Following a chorus of disapproval at Gillham’s removal, including criticism from The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA) and the Australian Music Students’...