Trouble at t'Proms

[Petrushka]

If people want the discussion to take this line I will move it over to Platform 3 to leave this thread clear to discuss the concert when the repeat is heard.

I say leave it here. As johnb says there isn't actually any music content to discuss. If things turn ugly, then close it down.

[BudgieJane]

Will he/she still be a friend after that statement?

Yes.

[Bryn]

Will he/she still be a friend after that statement?

Had the 'friend' used upper case for the P of Philistines, that would not be so far from the truth, surely? From what I remember, the Philistines were Semitic, at least as regards their linguistic categorization, as are, again as I recall, the Palestinian people.

[Anna]

Well I enjoyed the Webern! I'll certainly listen to the edited repeat on Wednesday but as Chris says But there was and must always be the hope that traditional musical goodwill (the sort advocated by Daniel Barenboim and his wonderfully intentioned West Eastern Divan Orchestra) would succeed. and, before I go, I think the BBC are at fault for not sticking with it until the fuss had died down but I expect it was that old bugbear again - no room for manoeuvre within the tight schedules!! Who gives a toss if it seriously over ran?

[PJPJ]

It's all kicked off again - sounded like a Nazi rally; a record is in place

Nazi rally? Sadly, moronic protests like this evening's give me the same feeling.

[Ariosto]

This is the second time the BBC have had to abandon a concert in the last year or so. (To my knowledge anyway).

The first was the Wigmore hall Jerusalem Quartet concert, a live lunchtime broadcast, and now a Prom.

Is this the first time in the history of a Prom that a concert has been abandoned? (Or at least the live broadcast of a concert).

[Ariosto]

Nazi rally? Sadly, moronic protests like this evening's give me the same feeling.

I think you made the wrong link to a moron there.

[BudgieJane]

You may be interested in this

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14756736

[Serial_Apologist]

From a friend of mine who was at the concert:

What nice friends you keep. Whoever said that Palestine is modern for philistine is a self-defined racist and supporter of Israel's 40 + infringement of United nations resolutions demanding its withdrawal to 1967 boundaries.

[Serial_Apologist]

And by the way, before you make assumptions, I am strongly against the protest and similar protests of the kind to that of tonight's Prom - whatever the cause

[Flosshilde]

Nazi rally? Sadly, moronic protests like this evening's give me the same feeling.

In what sense was it 'moronic'? Is it moronic to protest against manifest injustice perpetrated by an extremely powerful state? To liken the protests to a Nazi rally is offensive to both sides, and also uses the same accusation of ant-semitism that Israel apologists use to stifle any discussion.

[Ariosto]

"Outside the concert hall a group of about 20 campaigners waved banners and sang songs in protest against the appearance of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO).

Increased security measures had taken place including bag searches and a heightened police presence.

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign had urged people to boycott the concert and called on the BBC to cancel the event.

The pro-Palestinian group claimed that the IPO showed "complicity in whitewashing Israel's persistent violations of international law and human rights".

Interesting!

[PJPJ]

I think you made the wrong link to a moron there.

I used the word "moronic" instead of another, which would certainly have been moderated.

[Serial_Apologist]

In what sense was it 'moronic'? Is it moronic to protest against manifest injustice perpetrated by an extremely powerful state? To liken the protests to a Nazi rally is offensive to both sides, and also uses the same accusation of ant-semitism that Israel apologists use to stifle any discussion.

It sounded LIKE a Nazi rally: "Out Out Out Out Out!" = "Raus Raus Raus Raus" I suppose I could have said it sounded like a Trotskyist rally. Sorry for the unintended implication - pretty stupid of me I now realize

[Lateralthinking1]

No 69 - So am I. I don't like it one jot. Some on the far left, with whom I agree on several things, seem anti-Jewish. While there is a lot of reason to criticise the Israeli government, it is also a convenient tag for those particular people to "counter-balance" their fairness in regard to everyone else. That is, they have a huge bit of cowardly human prejudice that needs to go somewhere so it goes there.

Of course, they claim not to be anti-Jewish. For a start, it would expose them as racists. But musicians can't be responsible for their nationality any more than someone can be responsible for being black. That is one of the reasons why I make a special point of supporting Israeli musicians as long as they neither talk up the regime or denigrate their own Jewishness.

I hope 12 of the remaining 1500 prison places can be saved for those who destroyed this occasion by aiming their bile at the innocent, civilised and talented. I find it deeply upsetting. For if we accept their basic premise, anyone who opposes Cameron's more aggressive actions should be prevented from performing in British orchestras. And that can't be correct.

(Footnote - I have changed the wording of the second and third sentences to reflect my position more accurately).