This must have damaged the minds of the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra musicians and their conductor, Lahav Shani, as they were judged based on their Israeli passports and not their universal artistry. Already contested elsewhere, in Europe or the United States, their concert was interrupted three times, on November 6, at the Philharmonie de Paris, by activists dropping leaflets in the room, brandishing smoke bombs or shouting to denounce a “genocide” in Palestine.
Whatever we think of these events, we can’t help but wonder what the meaning of the spectacle inside the bunker, with police officers among the spectators, was. The question posed to the artists, staff, regulatory bodies (especially the State, also the City of Paris) for the two shows scheduled in the coming weeks with Israeli musicians – keep them or cancel them? But it is likely that self-censorship will move more quickly in cultural venues in Europe to avoid it “pee”as the museum manager said.
Another question arises: have the criteria guiding whether to invite – or not – Israeli or Russian artists changed? Currently, we ask them to be neutral towards their country. This is how the only Russian cultural figure who is persona non grata in France today is the conductor Valery Gergiev, due to his very strong relationship with Vladimir Putin; he put himself in an offside position. If not, it was enough for Russian diva Anna Netrebko, once close to the Kremlin, to utter a few words against the war in Ukraine and be invited again to sing in Europe – which, among other things, suggests leniency towards Russian culture.
Ruled out
It’s not that simple for cultures created in Israel. Thus the pedigree of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and its conductors is examined in Europe and the United States. The elements requesting an invitation are listed. State subsidies are low, around 12%. Power is in the hands of the musicians, who are managed themselves in a cooperative manner. They are not all Israelis, and they are not all Jews. No one will say any words in public supporting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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