The Concertgebouw, Amsterdam’s storied concert venue, has reinstated one of two scheduled recitals by the Jerusalem Quartet after canceling the group’s appearance over concerns about protests against Israel’s conduct in its offensive against the Hamas terrorist group in Gaza.
The Jerusalem, one of the world’s pre-eminent string quartets, was to have performed on May 16 and 18 at the Concertgebouw; but the hall’s management canceled the dates after violent protests at the University of Amsterdam and fears that pro-Palestinian demonstrators might disrupt the performances or endanger the safety of the artists, audience and hall staff.
The cancellations prompted a petition signed by more than 13,000 artists and critics – among them, stellar figures such as Martha Argerich, Evgeny Kissin, Simon Rattle and Anne-Sophie Mutter. A subsequent statement from signatories reads, in part, “Surrendering to those threats is not only an act of weakness, but a clear signal that we are not willing or prepared to defend our democratic values and our way of life. This is not acceptable and is highly dangerous for it undermines the very foundations of our society.”
The Concertgebouw, after arranging for “tightened security measures,” will go ahead with the Jerusalem’s May 18 performance, The Strad reports:
Letter V 