The announced concert would take place on December 14 this year. Part of the planned performance is the presence of IDF Chief Cantor Shai Abramson. “As Chief Cantor, Abramson has an important role in the Israeli army and represents the IDF on official matters,” the Concertgebouw wrote in the statement. “Only in very exceptional cases do we make an exception to our important principle of artistic freedom.”
Conversations
The Concertgebouw states that Abramson actively presents himself in this role. “It is decisive for the Concertgebouw that the IDF is actively involved in a controversial war and Abramson is a visible representative of it.” From the summer onwards, discussions are said to have taken place with the relevant foundation with the aim of ‘continuing the Hanukkah concert’.
So another program with a different singer was proposed. The Chanukah Concert Foundation decided not to go along with this, according to the Concertgebouw. “Unfortunately, no solution was found. The Concertgebouw was then forced to terminate the agreement with the foundation.” The Concertgebouw says it ‘understands the position of the foundation and understands that this issue is extremely sensitive to them’.
‘Without consultation’
In September the foundation responded already on the Concertgebouw’s announcement about difficulties surrounding the content of the programming. This would have ’caused unnecessary commotion’. “The agreement between the Concertgebouw and the Chanukah Concert Foundation has existed for many months and the participation of cantor Abramson has been part of these agreements from the beginning,” the foundation said. “Abramson is also no stranger to the Concertgebouw: he already performed successfully in 2022.”
The foundation indicated at the time that it did not understand ‘the late timing of this request and the subsequent public statement’. According to the Chanukah Concert Foundation, the statement would be somewhat misleading September 4 was brought out by the Concertgebouw, were not in consultation. “This has a harmful effect, a negative emphasis is wrongly placed on the concert. It paints an incorrect image of cantor Abramson.”