Belgian Festival Cancels Concert, Prime Minister Shows Support for Conductor

Belgium’s prime minister attended a concert in Germany conducted by Israeli maestro Lahav Shani after a Belgian festival canceled his performance, igniting significant backlash. This unexpected gesture from Bart De Wever signals his strong stance against the decision made by the Flanders Festival Ghent to withdraw support for the concert scheduled on September 18, 2023.

During the concert held in Essen on Saturday, Shani, who is set to become the chief conductor of the Munich Philharmonic next year, received a warm acknowledgment from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. In a post on social media, Merz expressed gratitude to De Wever for demonstrating solidarity, noting the importance of combating discrimination in all forms.

The controversy began when the Flanders Festival Ghent issued a statement explaining its decision to cancel Shani’s concert. The festival emphasized its uncertainty regarding Shani’s views on the situation in Israel, particularly regarding his connection to the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. The festival stated, “While Shani has advocated for peace and reconciliation in the past, we cannot provide sufficient clarity about his stance on the genocidal regime in Tel Aviv.”

The claim that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza has been vehemently denied by Israeli officials. Idit Rosenzweig-Abu, Israel’s ambassador to Belgium, voiced her concern over the festival’s decision, stating on the social platform X that such actions represent discrimination based on origin and are indicative of antisemitism.

The cancellation drew widespread criticism, particularly in Germany, where another music festival quickly invited Shani and the Munich Philharmonic to perform on short notice. In his message of support, De Wever shared a photo with Shani on X, reiterating that racism and antisemitism have no place in Belgium. He strongly condemned the cancellation of the Ghent concert, highlighting that it was based solely on Shani’s origin.

De Wever expressed his desire to personally convey his appreciation for Shani’s contributions to music, emphasizing the need to support artists regardless of their background. Merz echoed this sentiment, asserting that society must actively resist all forms of naked antisemitism.

As the cultural landscape continues to grapple with the implications of political conflicts, this incident underscores the ongoing tensions within the arts community and the ways in which artists can become entangled in broader geopolitical narratives.