Cancellation of Munich Philharmonic Concert Sparks Controversy
The Munich Philharmonic, scheduled to perform in Ghent on September 18 under the baton of Lahav Shani, has had its concert canceled by festival organizers over concerns regarding Shani’s connections with the Israeli government, reports 24brussels.
Prime Minister Bart De Wever (N-VA) condemned the cancellation, labeling it “reckless and irresponsible.” He pointed out that the decision has generated significant backlash in Germany, where it has been described as antisemitic.
“Imposing a professional ban on someone solely because of their origin is, at the very least, reckless and irresponsible,” De Wever stated. He further noted that it is “quite unprecedented to demand that artists put their thoughts in writing,” asserting that such a requirement threatens artistic freedom and could damage Belgium’s reputation.
Political Reactions and International Backlash
Georges-Louis Bouchez, president of the MR, labeled the cancellation a disgrace and called for the resignation of Flemish Culture Minister Caroline Gennez, who had expressed support for the festival’s decision. Bouchez contended that this represents a form of “political policing tinged with antisemitism,” questioning whether all Belgians would now be required to state their positions on various issues before being invited to perform.
Internationally, reactions have been swift. Israel’s ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, denounced the concert’s cancellation as “pure antisemitism.” He charged that the festival organizers sent a harmful message excluding Jewish participation, describing this act as a “frontal assault on artistic freedom disguised as criticism of Israel.”
Germany’s ambassador to Belgium, Martin Kotthaus, expressed regret over the decision, labeling both it and its rationale as incomprehensible.
The Ghent Festival of Flanders commenced its annual celebration tonight, featuring events across approximately 30 towns in East Flanders throughout September. With around 1,500 artists performing at historic venues including St Bavo’s Cathedral and the Ghent Opera, the festival is renowned for showcasing high-quality classical and world music through approximately 180 concerts each year.