Melbourne Symphony Orchestra has cancelled a Melbourne Town Hall scheduled for tonight (Thursday 15 August), citing “safety concerns”.
In an email sent to ticketholders, MSO wrote that it had sought security advice “considering events that have occurred since last Sunday’s concert with Jayson Gillham.”
“In light of this advice, the MSO Board and management had no option but to cancel the concert. We apologise to those who were planning to attend.”
Jayson Gillham. Photo © Benjamin Ealovega
In the same email, the MSO acknowledged that “an error was made in asking Jayson to step back from his performance on Thursday 15 August.”
“We have been engaging constructively with Jayson and his management and are seeking to reschedule the concert.”
“While the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra maintains that a concert platform is not an appropriate stage for political comment, we acknowledge Jayson’s concerns for those in the Middle East and elsewhere.”
“We recognise the strength of feelings of all parties on this matter and particularly acknowledge the dedication and commitment demonstrated by all our musicians and staff this week.”
The announcement after criticism of the MSO’s actions regarding comments made by Gillham during a recital of a work dedicated to journalists killed in the...
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Hurrah that the MSO admits to an error in cancelling the Gillham concert. And hurrah to the players who had passed a motion of no confidence in their management. An extraordinary piece of cancel culture by a nervy board. Given that the solo piano composition was always intended as a tribute to the journalists killed in Gaza, some commentary by Gillham was surely inevitable. Artists in a free society are surely entitled to have political opinions.
A brilliant cartoon by Wilcox in the SMH this week must have mystified readers who had been told absolutely nothing about the story. Were its editors as nervy as the MSO?