Belgian festival cancels Munich philharmonic over Israeli conductor
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The Flanders Festival in Ghent canceled a Munich Philharmonic concert over concerns about Israeli conductor Lahav Shani’s ties to "Israel."
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Israeli conductor Lahav Shani during the Lucerne Festival ( @Manuela Jans, X )
The Flanders Festival in Ghent has canceled a performance by the Munich Philharmonic, citing concerns over its Israeli conductor Lahav Shani. The decision, announced Wednesday, has drawn accusations of antisemitism from German officials and fueled debate over cultural boycotts linked to the war on Gaza.
Organizers said the cancellation was made “on the basis of our deepest conviction that music should be a source of connection and reconciliation.” While acknowledging that Shani has spoken in favor of peace, the festival pointed to his role as principal conductor of the "Israel" Philharmonic Orchestra, stating it could not clarify his position on what it described as the genocidal regime in Tel Aviv.
The festival noted the move aligned with calls from Belgium’s cultural sector to avoid collaboration with institutions not distancing themselves from the Israeli government.
German and Belgian reactions
The decision triggered swift backlash from Germany. Wolfram Weimer, Berlin’s culture and media commissioner, condemned the move as “a disgrace for Europe” and “naked antisemitism.” Munich Philharmonic artistic director Florian Wiegand said organizers were “stunned” by what he called an “unimaginable decision” in the heart of the European Union.
Belgium’s Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot, however, distanced himself from the festival’s choice, describing it as “excessive.”
Lahav Shani’s position
Shani, 36, is due to take over as chief conductor of the Munich Philharmonic next year.
In past interviews, Shani expressed pride in representing Israeli "culture" internationally but emphasized that he sees himself as an ambassador of the occupation.
He has both supported "Israel's" war on Gaza after and criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s judicial reforms, arguing that "Israel" has failed to pursue a genuine solution to Palestine.
The row recalls the controversy of Shani’s predecessor, Valery Gergiev, who was dismissed in 2022 for refusing to denounce Russia’s war in Ukraine or distance himself from Vladimir Putin.
The Munich Philharmonic, one of Germany’s leading orchestras, is historically significant, having premiered major works by Gustav Mahler under the composer’s direction.
