Statement The Concertgebouw regarding Chanukah concert
Performance IDF Chief Cantor is at odds with mission of connecting people through music
The annual Chanukah concert and the connection with the Jewish community are very important to The Concertgebouw. Nevertheless, The Concertgebouw has had to make the difficult decision to terminate the agreement with the Chanukah Concert Foundation for December 14. This decision was made because it was not possible to reach an agreement on an alternative to the performance by the IDF Chief Cantor. His presence is at odds with The Concertgebouw's mission to connect people through music.
The annual Chanukah concert and the connection with the Jewish community are very important to The Concertgebouw. Nevertheless, The Concertgebouw has had to make the difficult decision to end the agreement with the Chanukah Concert Foundation for December 14. This decision was made because it was not possible to reach an agreement on an alternative to the performance by the IDF Chief Cantor. His presence is at odds with The Concertgebouw's mission to connect people through music.
The Chanukah Concert Foundation had programmed IDF Chief Cantor Shai Abramson for the Chanukah concerts they organized on December 14. As Chief Cantor, Abramson plays an important role in the IDF (Israeli army) and represents the IDF at official occasions. Abramson actively presents himself in this role. For The Concertgebouw, it is crucial that the IDF is actively involved in a controversial war and that Abramson is a visible representative of it.
This summer, The Concertgebouw started discussions with the foundation with the aim of allowing the Chanukah concert to go ahead. In doing so, The Concertgebouw asked the foundation in several meetings to program a different singer. However, the Chanukah Concert Foundation insisted on Abramson's performance. Unfortunately, no other solution was found. The Concertgebouw therefore felt compelled to end the agreement with the foundation.
The Concertgebouw understands the foundation's position and that this issue is extremely sensitive for the foundation. The Concertgebouw therefore remains open to a different programming of the concert by the foundation. In a time of increasing anti-Semitism, we find it important to emphasize that The Concertgebouw will always remain a place where the Jewish community is welcome.
Director Simon Reinink: "Making this decision was extremely difficult. Only in very exceptional cases do we make an exception to our important principle of artistic freedom. To our great regret, such an exception is now occurring. The intended performance by the chief cantor of the IDF is at odds with our mission: connecting people through music."