Following the Festival of Flanders’ decision to cancel a concert in Ghent on Sept. 18, where Lahav Shani was scheduled to perform together with the Münchner Philharmoniker, the Rotterdam Philharmonic has released a statement.

Rob Streevelaar, General and Artistic Director of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, said, “We have taken note of the cancellation of the concert in Ghent, under pressure from political and social circumstances. We are closely following these developments, in consultation with Lahav and our partners. Our guiding principle is always that music should connect and not divide. At the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, we will never judge individual artists on the basis of their nationality or background, nor associate them without reason with the politics of their country. We deliberately choose to collaborate with musicians on the basis of artistic quality and shared values: humanity, connectedness, and the conviction that music can build bridges between people.”

He added, “Our Chief Conductor Lahav Shani has previously spoken out in the press in favor of peace and humanity. He has emphasized that he does not represent a political position, but wishes to contribute to unity and hope through art. He does this by way of various iniatives, including his involvement with the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, founded by Palestinian scholar Edward Said and Israeli pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim.”

Shani added, “Every life lost is one too many. Music can show that cooperation, dialogue, and even reconciliation are possible. I believe that peace will come, however difficult that may seem now. We cherish the hope that enemies can come together and become friends, to communicate on the highest possible human level. It is possible to make music together, to feel and think together at the highest level, even if we strongly disagree on political or other matters in life.”

On Sept. 10, the Flanders Festival Ghent announced that it had decided to cancel the concert by the Munich Philharmonic because Lahav Shani was the Israel Philharmonic’s music director. The festival said, “The decision has been made on the basis of our deepest conviction that music should be a source of connection and reconciliation. First and foremost, Flanders Festival Ghent aspires to be a place where artists, audiences and staff can experience music in a context of respect and safety. Lahav Shani has spoken out in favor of peace and reconciliation several times in the past, but in the light of his role as the chief conductor of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, we are unable to provide sufficient clarity about his attitude to the genocidal regime in Tel Aviv. In line with the call from the Minister of Culture, the city council of Ghent and the cultural sector in Ghent, we have chosen to refrain from collaboration with partners who have not distanced themselves unequivocally from that regime.”

Read Related Stories

• Flanders Festival Ghent Cancels Munich Philharmonic’s Concert Due to Lahav Shani’s Position with the Israel Philharmonic