Decision to Cancel Jerusalem Quartet's Concertgebouw Concerts Attracts Condemnation
A decision to cancel concerts this week by the Jerusalem Quartet at Amsterdam's Concertgebouw hall has attracted condemnation from musicians around the world, with a petition gaining thousands of signatures overnight.
The concerts were scheduled for May 16th and 18th.
Left, the Jerusalem Quartet; right, Royal Concertgebouw Hall.
A statement by the Concertgebouw Wednesday said that the cancellations were precipitated by two demonstrations that were being planned around the concert, as well as the general atmosphere in the city. "Recent developments in and around the University of Amsterdam made that, after extremely intense discussions, we came to the decision not to allow the concerts to go ahead. We could not guarantee the safety within our building of staff, visitors and musicians. We are very sorry for all visitors and not least for the musicians of the Jerusalem Quartet."
University of Amsterdam canceled classes Tuesday and shut buildings for two days in response to demonstrations over the war in Gaza that drew riot police and led to aggressive confrontations, according to The Independent.
As of late Wednesday a petition to reinstate the Jerusalem String Quartet's Concertgebouw concerts drew more than 7,000 signatures from musicians worldwide, including well-known classical artists such as Joshua Bell, Nikolaj Znaider, Paavo Jaarvi, Simon Rattle, Alisa Weilerstein, Roman Mints, Alexander Sitkovetsky, Noah Bendix-Balgley and many others.
The petition, started by pianist Danny Driver and harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani, argues that "By cancelling these concerts, the management of the Concertgebouw placates a vocal minority who advocate for their cause through intimidation and credible threats of disorder and violence....Anything less than permitting the Jerusalem Quartet to continue with its planned performances — and to provide them and the audience of the Concertgebouw with protection and support — amounts to pure moral cowardice."
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It seems like the concert hall feels like there is too much liability or room for disruption, and they anticipate potential headaches not being worth it as a venue, but the threats of 'rioting' and 'violence' from supposed protestors (as I've seen some claim) are not something that can be verified for an event that doesn't occur, so it would be easy to make a straw man out of everyone that rightfully criticizes the actions of the Israeli government.
I don't know what the moral obligation is for musicians to speak out simply because they hold a nationality of a country that is engaging in genocide. I don't think it was the moral obligation of every American musician to speak out against the reprehensible war in Iraq simply by dint of their nationality. I haven't heard the Jerusalem Quartet defending the Israeli Government's campaign of mass starvation and collective punishment of the people of Gaza, and I probably would boycott them if they did.
I did hear them play a few weeks ago, and they are absolutely fantastic musicians that any fan of good music would be remiss for dismissing them by association with their birthplace.
EDIT: Although, actually looking, the BDSMovement organization makes a specific case for boycotting the Jerusalem Quartet, in line with its tenets of cultural boycott. https://bdsmovement.net/news/boycott-jerusalem-quartet
Hmm, something for me to think about.
This is a very sad situation. I believe that it falls on the government to maintain peace. Canceling the concert on the basis of a threat of violence, is a vote of no confidence in the government, or an underhanded way of discriminating against the performers. If I recall correctly, they have cancelled several other concerts and provided similar reasons. In those instances the performers were also from countries in military conflict.
What a cowardly disgrace to cancel those performances!
Of course it's the name that's potentially inflammatory. I doubt the Carmel Quartet would be the target of mass demonstrations.
I´m not sure what you mean by that comment, David. Gaza has been levelled, tens of thousands of innocents killed because they are between a terrorist group and a state exacting vengeance. Its culture has been obliterated. The West continues to be shamefully complicit in this destruction.
However, Palestine has many sublime musicians, and when there are two states living side by side in peace, which I fervently hope will be the case one day, there will indeed be many touring ensembles.
For the record, I do not support cultural boycotts, and this concert should not have been cancelled.
Nicolas, the ruling party of Gaza, elected by the residents, doesn't seem to have a very positive view of music used for entertainment or recreational purposes. However, they seem to be OK with the melodious recitation of the Holy Qur'an and the call to prayer, so maybe a quartet in Gaza could do something which sounds a little like that?
The opinions of Muslim scholars differ on whether or not music is forbidden by Islamic teachings or law, or to what extent various kinds of music are OK. Some take sort of middle ground, saying that pretty much any kind of music is acceptable, as long as no alcohol is involved, and the men and women are kept separated.
Opinions also differ on whether men and women must pray separately, or if it's OK to pray in the same room as long as the men are in front and the women are behind them.
Some of this sounds very strange to me, but I admittedly grew up in a very different culture.
David, the opinions of Jewish and of Christian scholars differ on whether or not music is forbidden. Thus, I do not see it as reasonable to cast religions in an unfavorable light on this basis.
Mark wrote:
"David, the opinions of Jewish and of Christian scholars differ on whether or not music is forbidden."
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I wasn't aware that either of those religions, or any sub-group forbids music, despite my father having gotten his grad degree from Princeton Theological School, but I would like to learn more. Can you recommend some study materials?
As I´m sure you´re fully aware, David, the Islamic world has many varied and rich musical traditions, despite the complicated status of music in Islam. In the West Bank, there are at least two music schools, teaching Western as well as Arabic classical music, and Palestinian folk music is ubiquitous. There are theatres, bars, nightlife. It is not a place of orientalist fantasy, but somewhere where you would encounter many familiar things and people who want the same opportunities as anywhere else. As for the election of Hamas in Gaza, this was hardly to do with their views on music. It was a result of the corruption of the ruling party, Fatah and its failure to make any tangible gains for the Palestinians after the breakdown of Oslo. And of course, that election - hardly a clean one - took place in 2006, and they have ruled with an iron fist since. The children killed under Israeli bombs have zero responsibility for their rule, or for the atrocities which Hamas carried out on October 7th.
As a reaction to earlier posts and this news item: The concert is not cancelled but will be rescheduled. They feel responsible for the safety of the musicians and public and feel they cannot guarantee this at this moment.
Nicholas, I agree that things are quite different in the West Bank than in Gaza. The West Bank is largely administered by Israel. In contrast, Israel completely withdrew from Gaza 19 years ago. After that, administration in Gaza was by The Palestinian Authority for a short time, and then by Hamas.
What, if anything, do you think should be done about Hamas rule in Gaza, and via what means?
Yes, David, there have been prohibitions of music in Judiasm and Christianity. There was a prohibition of all music in Judiasm following the destruction of the temple. Since that time there have been prohibitions relating to music in certain circumstances. To this day, many Orthodox Jewish congregations prohibit instrumental music on Shabbat.
Christianity also has a history of prohibiting music. There have been many strong condemnations of music. Saint Nicodemus the Hagorite wrote where there is music Christ does not enter. Calvin prohibited instrumental music in worship and led to some good old fashioned instrument burnings.
However, not all Christian and Jewish leaders believe that music should be prohibited. Just as not all Muslim leaders believe it.
The issue is not with religions. The issue is with specific intolerant people. Such as the people disrupting the concerts.
“Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp! Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!”
Psalms 150, 3-6
David, I don´t think this is an appropriate place to discuss politics. I have largely confined my remarks to music for this reason - and the rich Palestinian traditions that your initial comments occluded. But a simple answer would be along the lines of: both parties to the conflict are obliged to follow international law, and violations should be enforced by the international community. The West cannot support a campaign of vengeance and destruction in which tens of thousands of innocent people are killed (suffice to say, apologetics for Hamas are unspeakable). There also needs to be a political horizon, with two states for two indigenous peoples.
Nicolas, I never had the slightest intention whatsoever of occluding the musical contributions of Arabs.
The recent musical contributions of Gazans might be somewhat of a different story, though, hence my joking reference to a "Gaza Quartet". :-)
If you believe that all people of Arabic ancestry are the same, I would like to make it very clear that I do not.
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May 15, 2024 at 09:55 PM · Perhaps if Amsterdam also hosted a performance by the Gaza Quartet, the protesters could be appeased?
Naw, just kidding. :-)