Pro–Palestinian protesters were booed after disrupting a BBC Proms concert at the Royal Albert Hall last night, accusing the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra of having ‘blood on its hands’.
The disruption began moments into the performance at the renowned venue, forcing the orchestra to stop playing for more than ten minutes.
Jewish Artists for Palestine, a group which describes itself as ‘anti–Zionist Jewish writers, visual and performance artists’, has claimed responsibility, saying the action was aimed at exposing ‘Zionist funding, censorship and complicity’ in the arts.
Footage shared online showed demonstrators in the upper balcony holding signs and shouting: ‘The MSO is complicit in genocide’ and ‘You silence artists’.
‘The MSO has blood on its hands,’ another woman can be heard shouting.
As they continued, members of the audience responded with loud boos while the orchestra remained silent.
The group said it targeted the MSO because it cancelled a Sydney concert by pianist Jayson Gillham last year after his pro–Gaza remarks, a decision which the orchestra has since admitted was wrong.
The group said in a statement that it had targeted the MSO’s concert after they cancelled a performance by acclaimed pianist Jayson Gillham last year.
The disruption began moments into the performance at the renowned venue, forcing the orchestra to stop playing for more than ten minutes
Jewish Artists for Palestine, a group which describes itself as ‘anti–Zionist Jewish writers, visual and performance artists’, has claimed responsibility
The group said in a statement that it had targeted the MSO’s concert after they cancelled a performance by acclaimed pianist Jayson Gillham, pictured, last year
Mr Gillham’s performance in Sydney was cancelled due to comments he made in support of Gazans. The MSO has since said the cancellation had been a mistake.
Shouts of ‘you silenced Jayson Gillham’ and the ‘MSO is complicit in genocide’ was also heard, followed by booing from the audience.
The BBC apologised for the disruption but said it was dealt with by the venue.
The interruption was captured on BBC Radio 3, which was broadcasting the performance.
Announcer Ian Skelly could be heard narrating what was happening during the interruption, including that security was brought in to remove the protesters.
Angela Tanner, who was in the stalls, told the BBC that it took quite a while for the protesters to be removed.
‘The whole programme had to start again and has been put into a different order after the piano was put onto the stage and taken off again,’ she said.
‘There was lots of booing from the audience, then eventually they [the organisers] announced, thanks for our patience.’
Shouts of ‘you silenced Jayson Gillham’ and the ‘MSO is complicit in genocide’ was also heard, followed by booing from the audience
Post shared by the group on their social media post
A spokesperson for the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra said: ‘We are proud of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for the resilience and professionalism demonstrated in its performance in London.
‘The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra was making its first visit to the BBC Proms under Chief Conductor Jaime Martín, with a sold-out performance at Royal Albert Hall.
‘The London performance was the culmination of the MSO’s successful tour of Europe. We are proud of our musicians for delivering a world-class performance at one of the world’s great music venues.’
It comes as parents were left outraged after pro–Palestinian activists stormed a children’s science show in Wimbledon, leaving youngsters in tears as chaos erupted inside the theatre.
The New Wimbledon Theatre descended into uproar earlier this month when a group calling itself Parents for Palestine barged into the venue, chanting in front of an audience packed with children as young as seven.
Shaken parents said children were ‘crying their eyes out’, with some forced to cover their ears as the protest dragged on.
The activists were eventually bundled out by staff, but not before leaving families stunned and frightened.
One mother, Rose, said how her autistic seven–year–old daughter was left ‘really upset’ by the disruption.
She said: ‘We’re sitting there getting ready for the show and then there’s this lady with a mask over her face and then she starts chanting.
A woman, carrying a baby appears on stage during a protest at the New Wimbledon Theatre
A group of ‘Parents for Palestine’ protesters stormed the venue and began chanting in front of an audience of terrified youngsters
‘And then after that, I see a big banner drop from the top of the theatre and then from that everything is just disrupted.
‘There are parents with their children next to me, and their kids are crying their eyes out cause it’s quite scary.
‘Security has come along and ushered some people out, but then some other people who have got up on the stage to make sure their voices are getting heard.’
‘You can do a peaceful protest, but this isn’t the way. Why would you do this at a kids show? The children do not need to know this, this is not an appropriate time.
‘It was about 4:25pm – the show was supposed to start at 4:30pm – and that’s when they jump out of their seats and start chanting their nonsense.
‘We had to wait half an hour for the show to begin. The show did go ahead and it was quite a good show.’
Rose claimed that one parent sitting next to her later called the police and there was subsequently a ‘large police presence’ outside.
