Melbourne orchestra rejects compensation claim from pro-Palestine pianist
Australian-British pianist Jayson Gillham has expressed deep disappointment after the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) rejected his claim for compensation for cancelling his performance over his pro-Palestinian views.
The dispute began on August 11 when Gillham played a piece of music dedicated to the Palestinian journalists Israel has killed in Gaza. The next day, the MSO told Gillham that his concert on August 15 had been cancelled.
The pianist has since accused the MSO of discrimination and called for compensation, including a public apology, the commission of a piano concerto by a Palestinian composer and a donation to the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music in Palestine.
Lawyers for MSO, however, told Gillham the demands were “outrageous” and that he had aired political views “improperly” and caused “distress to many members of the audience” during his August 11 performance.
Gillham responded by saying that the MSO letter “mischaracterises the events that transpired and fails to address the serious issues raised in my initial correspondence”.
He added, “The implication that my actions caused safety concerns is unfounded and deeply troubling. It appears to be an attempt to deflect from the real issues at hand and to stigmatise legitimate political expression.”
Gillham said: “I am deeply disappointed by the tone and content of ABL’s letter on behalf of the MSO. The letter mischaracterises the events that transpired and fails to address the serious issues raised in my initial correspondence.”
🧵1/4https://t.co/eiMEXLctP3
— Jayson Gillham (@jaysongillham) September 2, 2024
Israel’s foreign minister blames Hamas for captive deaths
Reacting to the deaths of six Israeli captives, Israel Katz says his country will respond with “full force”. “Hamas is responsible and will pay the full price,” Israel Katz posted on X.
On Sunday, Israel’s military announced the recovery of the captives’ bodies from a tunnel in southern Gaza amid its deadly assault on the Palestinian enclave.
Earlier, senior Hamas official Izzat al-Risheq said the captives were killed in Israeli air raids.
Israel’s UN envoy Danny Danon has requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to address the situation of the captives still being held in Gaza.
UNSC to address the situation? It's been almost a year and the UNSC has still achieved nothing.
