Pro-Palestine activists interrupted a BBC Proms performance by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) at the Royal Albert Hall on Friday, accusing the orchestra's management of silencing artists critical of Israel's actions in Gaza.
The group, Jewish Artists for Palestine, disrupted the concert for more than ten minutes, shouting from the upper stalls and holding signs that read 'Jewish Artists for Palestine' and 'complicit in genocide'. One protester shouted: 'The MSO has blood on its hands. You silenced Jayson Gillham.'
The protest relates to the cancellation of a concert by pianist Jayson Gillham in August 2024, after he made remarks from the stage about Palestinian journalists killed in Gaza. Gillham, who is now suing the MSO, said the cancellation was an attempt to silence him. The MSO initially said Gillham's remarks were made without approval, but later admitted it had made an error.
The disruption was met with booing from sections of the audience. The BBC, which broadcast the concert, apologised for the interruption and diverted its live radio feed to pre-recorded music while security removed the protesters.
An MSO spokesperson praised the orchestra's resilience, stating that musicians had delivered 'a world-class performance' despite the disruption. Gillham, meanwhile, said the protest highlighted that the MSO's brand had 'taken a nosedive globally' because of management's actions.
