Pianist sues Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for cancelling his concert allegedly over Gaza stance

Comments

• unionagainstdhmo@aussie.zone ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  At a concert in the Iwaki Auditorium in Southbank on 11 August, Gillham played a short piece written by Connor D’Netto called Witness, which is dedicated to journalists who have lost their lives in the Gaza conflict.

  Introducing the work, the pianist addressed the audience, stating more than 100 Palestinian journalists had been killed, and that the targeting of journalists in a conflict was a war crime under international law.

  I cannot tell from this that he made a political statement at all. It doesn’t seem like he said the Israel were even targeting journalists (something which could be reasonably made out as a political statement since there is no concrete evidence to suggest either).

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  • Ilandar@aussie.zone ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    It was only political in the sense that Israel/Palestine is a political issue and referencing it at all is often labelled a “political” act. I’ve read the actual transcript of the speech and it was just stating statistics related to the theme of the piece. I am a little surprised he is suing though, he sounded more bemused than upset at the time and I thought it would be something they’d just put behind them after the backflip and investigation from the MSO.

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    • zero_gravitas@aussie.zone ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      I am a little surprised he is suing though, he sounded more bemused than upset at the time and I thought it would be something they’d just put behind them after the backflip and investigation from the MSO.

      Gillham said at the time that he was “grateful” the incident had “put the plight of Palestinian journalists in the spotlight.” source So I think it’s possible he’s using the opportunity of legal action to generate publicity for the issue.

      The potential chilling effect that the MSO’s actions could have on artists less able to defend themselves also makes it worth pursuing.

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  • maniacalmanicmania@aussie.zone ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    I updated the post to include a link to where folks can listen to and buy Witness by Connor D’Netto.

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    • tombruzzo@aussie.zone ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      Today is also Bandcamp Friday so artists get even more of the revenue from sales today

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