Berlin Phil adds concert for Israeli hostages and civilians on both sides
OrchestrasPress release:
“Together for humanity”
With a benefit concert on 20 December, the Berliner Philharmoniker and guests call for the release of all Israeli hostages, and for the protection of the Palestinian and Israeli civilian population.
The human suffering in the Middle East continues unabated. In the aftermath of the murderous attack by Hamas on Israel on 7 October, and amidst a humanitarian crisis of devastating proportions in Gaza, more than a hundred hostages kidnapped from Israel are still held captive. Their lives, as well as those of civilians in Gaza and in Israel, are in danger. With a benefit concert, the Berliner Philharmoniker, chief conductor Kiril Petrenko, and musical guests seek to set an example by calling for the release of all hostages and for the protection of all civilians.
The benefit concert will take place on 20 December 2023 at 16:00 in the main auditorium of the Philharmonie Berlin. Tickets can be purchased now for the standard price of €25 (plus optional additional donation) on the website of the Berliner Philharmoniker Foundation, by telephone on 030-254 89 999 or in person at the box office of the Philharmonie Berlin.
Under the banner “Together for Humanity”, renowned musicians from all over the world, including pianists Martha Argerich and Kirill Gerstein, baritone Thomas Hampson, cellist Steven Isserlis, soprano Anna Prohaska and violinist Christian Tetzlaff, will come together. Israeli and Palestinian-Israeli artists, including pianist Iddo Bar-Shai, oud player Taiseer Elias and singers Noa and Mira Awad, will also be taking part. Members of the Berliner Philharmoniker will perform chamber music and solo works. The programme ends with Max Bruchʼs orchestral work Kol Nidrei, played by the Berliner Philharmoniker under the direction of Kirill Petrenko; the soloist is Amihai Grosz, principal violist of the orchestra.
Proceeds from the concert will benefit three important projects: Israel’s “Abducted and Missing Families Forum” (which is behind the “Bring Them Home Now” campaign), and two peace organisations in Israel and Palestine, “Women Wage Peace” and “Women of the Sun”, which work together for lasting peace between the two peoples.
Till October 7 I would have unequivocally supported such an event, as well as a project like the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra. But now I’m of two minds about this, and I’d rather see separate concerts for Israelis and Palestinians. October 7 had many victims, and one of them is the political Left in Israel. I was an Israeli Leftist till October 7. Not any more. A concert like this, with all the good intentions, makes the false equivalency between innocents on both sides, but as far as I’m concerned, the only innocent Palestinians are those not yet teenagers. There is no parity here. And if proceeds from this concert go to Gaza, they’ll probably end up in the hands of Hamas. This smacks of the naivete which leftist liberals suffer from (as I did before October 7). It’s a luxury possible in Europe and America (for now), but not in Israel. Extremely sad, but extremely true.
Let me add a clarification. Claiming that there are no grownup innocent Palestinians was unjustified, and I apologize for this. Of course there are innocent Palestinians. Yet we should ask – where are they exactly? I understand that maybe in Gaza they’re too afraid to speak up. Yet what about in Europe and America? Where were these innocent Palestinians, let alone Arabs and Muslims in general, after October 7? Where were they even before Israel began retaliating? Where were they in places where they have nothing to fear? In 1982, 200,000 Israelis protested the massacre in Sabra and Shatila. I was there. I don’t recall any ifs or buts. We were simply ashamed that our country was complicit in a crime against humanity. Where is this shame among the innocent Palestinians? So again, I have no problem with a concert to benefit the innocent victims in Gaza. But I’d prefer it be organized separately from a concert for the Israeli victims. The Israeli victims are the main victims here, by far, and they deserve their own concert.
I am a Christian and I I think it is wonderful that a concert is on behalf of innocent Palestinians and Jews. As much as my heart bleeds for the hostages I was devestat3d to learn that the IDF mistakenly killed 3 Israeli hostages. I have friends both Muslim, Jews and of course Christians. Now us not the time to think divisively
Let alone the inhumane acts by Israelis all those year.