Lahav Shani is getting more support from international companies as well as colleagues following his canceled concert in Ghent over his position at the Israel Philharmonic.

The Staatsoper Unter den Linden released a statement noting, “Solidarity with Lahav Shani. We were deeply dismayed to learn of the decision by the festival in Ghent to disinvite the Munich Philharmonic due to Lahav Shani’s role as Music Director of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. Lahav Shani is an exceptional and distinguished artist with whom we have enjoyed a close and longstanding collaboration over many years. Since 2014, he has conducted the Staatskapelle Berlin at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden on multiple occasions – most recently in 2020 – in both concert and opera performances, and he has also appeared with us as a pianist, always receiving great acclaim from both audiences and the press.”

The company added, “The fact that his origin and artistic connection to an Israeli orchestra are now leading to his exclusion is scandalous.  Art must remain a space for dialogue, diversity, and mutual understanding – especially in difficult times. We stand with Lahav Shani and strongly oppose any form of cultural exclusion and antisemitism.”

Meanwhile, soprano Chein Reiss added her voice and said, “I am horrified by the decision of Ghent’s Flanders Festival to cancel the concert with the Munich Philharmonic and Lahav Shani. I stand in full solidarity with them and I commend both the orchestra and the City of Munich for their principled and courageous response. Their integrity sets an example for all who believe in the unifying power of music and in the fundamental values of respect, inclusion, and artistic freedom.”

The Berlin Philharmonic said, “It was with great dismay and incomprehension that we learned of the decision by the Flanders Festival Ghent to cancel the concert by the Munich Philharmonic conducted by Lahav Shani. Lahav Shani has been closely associated with our orchestra since his debut in September 2020. During this time, we have come to know him as a thoughtful artist and a person who – especially with regard to the Middle East conflict – has repeatedly spoken out in favour of peace, dialogue and reconciliation. Excluding an artist from a festival because of his nationality is wrong and contradicts our understanding of music and culture. We are convinced that, especially in these times, music should build bridges rather than deepen divisions.”

The company added, “We express our full solidarity with Lahav Shani, the violinist Lisa Batiashvili, who is also affected, and our colleagues at the Munich Philharmonic. We are very grateful to the team at Musikfest Berlin and the Konzerthaus Berlin for organizing a performance by the Munich Philharmonic, Lahav Shani, and Lisa Batiashvili during the Musikfest Berlin at short notice, on the initiative of the Berliner Festspiele and the Berliner Philharmoniker Foundation.”

The statements come after the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées released a statement in support of Shani and confirmed his concert on September. 16, 2025.

On Sept. 10, the Flanders Festival Ghent announced it was canceling the concert by the Munich Philharmonic because Lahav Shani, who was conducting, is 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.”

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• Flanders Festival Ghent Cancels Munich Philharmonic’s Concert Due to Lahav Shani’s Position with the Israel Philharmonic
• Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra Speaks Out Regarding Lahav Shani’s Canceled Concert in Ghent
• Théâtre des Champs-Élysées Releases Statement in Support of Lahav Shani