Latest news with #IsraeliOpera
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Royal Ballet and Opera caves in to pro-Palestine activists and halts Israel show
The Royal Ballet and Opera has caved in to pro-Palestine activists and cancelled a planned production in Israel. A 2026 run of Tosca in partnership with the Israeli Opera in Tel Aviv will no longer go ahead because of pressure from staff. It comes after Daniel Perry, a 'queer dance artist' and alumnus of a £48,000-a-year dance school, pulled out a Palestinian flag during a curtain call at the Royal Opera House last month. The Royal Opera, part of the newly combined Royal Ballet and Opera (RBO), which receives public funding from the Arts Council, condemned the stunt at the time as inappropriate and contrary to its commitment to political neutrality. Following the on-stage protest on July 19, the RBO faced internal pressure from staff, who demanded the cancellation of the Tosca production. Credit: @sydcas/X Almost 200 staff signed a letter to Sir Alex Beard, the RBO's chief executive, calling the curtain call protest an 'act of courage and moral clarity'. The letter demanded that the RBO 'withholds our productions from institutions that legitimise and economically support a state engaged in the mass killing of civilians'. Announcing that the production would be cancelled, Sir Alex said: 'I am appalled by the crisis in Gaza and recognise the deep emotional impact this has had across our community and wider society. 'On this issue, we acknowledge and respect the full range of views held by our staff, artists and audiences.' He added that following Mr Perry's on-stage stunt, which Oliver Mears, the director of the Royal Opera House, attempted to end by snatching at the Palestinian flag, the RBO would review its stance on political messaging. Sir Alex added: 'The events at the curtain call on July 19 were without precedent. We have reflected carefully and reviewed our internal protocols. We always endeavour to act with integrity and compassion. 'We want our stage to remain a space for shared cultural appreciation, free from individual political statements.' Sir Alex went on to refer to Ukraine, saying: 'Our support for Ukraine was aligned with the global consensus at the time. As the world's geopolitics have become more complex, our stance has changed to ensure that our actions reflect our purpose and values.' The RBO has not confirmed whether this means that further pro-Palestine protests will be tolerated, or if pro-Ukraine messaging will be limited to ensure neutrality. The RBO's decision has been welcomed by pro-Palestine activists. Artists for Palestine, which has lobbied for cultural institutions to sever ties with Israel, said: 'This is a welcome breakthrough for institutional accountability – and a victory for grass-roots organising. Across the cultural sector too many institutions, faced with genocide, have opted for silence or worse.'The RBO staff's open letter is an essential ethical uprising against this refusal to speak out.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Solve the daily Crossword
Egypt Independent
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Egypt Independent
British opera company pulls performance in Israel after staff backlash
London — The Royal Ballet and Opera (RBO), one of Britain's most prestigious arts institutions, has canceled its planned production of 'Tosca' in Israel after a widespread staff backlash. In a recent open letter, 182 members of staff said they 'reject' holding current or future performances in Israel because of its war in Gaza. The RBO had planned to stage the three-act opera, which dramatizes the 'devastation of war,' in collaboration with the Israeli Opera in Tel Aviv next year. But the signatories accused the RBO of having 'chosen to actively support the Israeli state' while its government is 'currently engaged in crimes against humanity' in the besieged Palestinian enclave. Alex Beard, RBO's chief executive, confirmed to CNN Wednesday that the production had been canceled, but said the decision had been taken 'before the recent staff letter was received' and out of 'concerns about the safety of company members in the region, in light of the ongoing conflict.' The letter from staff was prompted by a dispute that broke out within the organization last month after a dancer held up a Palestinian flag during the curtain call for a performance of 'Il Trovatore.' Widely shared videos of the moment showed a fracas between the dancer and a man who stepped from the wings to try to snatch the flag from the dancer's hands. In a statement at the time, reported in UK media, the RBO said the dancer's display was a 'completely inappropriate' and 'unauthorized action' that fell foul of the organization's 'commitment to political impartiality.' However, the organization's response sparked widespread condemnation among staff. A view from the stage of the Auditorium of the Royal Opera their open letter, RBO staff expressed solidarity with the dancer who unfurled the Palestinian flag. It said that the attempt to snatch the flag from him 'sent a clear message that any visible solidarity with Palestine would be met with hostility.' Staff demanded that the organization withholds 'our productions from institutions that legitimize and economically support a state engaged in the mass killing of civilians.' More than 61,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, killing some 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostage. The letter also took aim at what it called the RBO's 'hypocritical' stance, citing the organization's support for Ukraine following Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. 'We understood then that silence was unacceptable. Why is it different now? Why is Palestinian suffering met with silence, while Ukrainian suffering was met with action? The double standard is deafening,' it said. Beard, the chief executive, said in a statement reported in UK media that the RBO's support for Ukraine was 'aligned with the global consensus at the time,' but that 'as the world's geopolitics have become more complex, our stance has changed to ensure that our actions reflect our purpose and values.' He said he was 'appalled by the crisis in Gaza' and that the RBO acknowledges and respects 'the full range of views held by our staff, artists and audiences.' Artists for Palestine UK, an activist group, praised the RBO's decision to cancel the production in Israel, claiming 'never before has the management of such an institution responded with immediate action.' Alarm over the suffering in Gaza has reached new heights in recent months since Israel put the enclave under a blockade, causing Palestinians to die of starvation and malnutrition. Following the lead of French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the UK would recognize a Palestinian state in September unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire in Gaza. The RBO's production of 'Tosca' will premiere in London in September. The Israeli Opera website has since removed all reference to the planned production.
CNN
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
British opera company pulls performance in Israel after staff backlash
The Middle East UK Israel-Hamas war MusicFacebookTweetLink Follow The Royal Ballet and Opera (RBO), one of Britain's most prestigious arts institutions, has canceled its planned production of 'Tosca' in Israel after a widespread staff backlash. In a recent open letter, 182 members of staff said they 'reject' holding current or future performances in Israel because of its war in Gaza. The RBO had planned to stage the three-act opera, which dramatizes the 'devastation of war,' in collaboration with the Israeli Opera in Tel Aviv next year. But the signatories accused the RBO of having 'chosen to actively support the Israeli state' while its government is 'currently engaged in crimes against humanity' in the besieged Palestinian enclave. Alex Beard, RBO's chief executive, confirmed to CNN Wednesday that the production had been canceled, but said the decision had been taken 'before the recent staff letter was received' and out of 'concerns about the safety of company members in the region, in light of the ongoing conflict.' The letter from staff was prompted by a dispute that broke out within the organization last month after a dancer held up a Palestinian flag during the curtain call for a performance of 'Il Trovatore.' Widely shared videos of the moment showed a fracas between the dancer and a man who stepped from the wings to try to snatch the flag from the dancer's hands. In a statement at the time, reported in UK media, the RBO said the dancer's display was a 'completely inappropriate' and 'unauthorized action' that fell foul of the organization's 'commitment to political impartiality.' However, the organization's response sparked widespread condemnation among staff. In their open letter, RBO staff expressed solidarity with the dancer who unfurled the Palestinian flag. It said that the attempt to snatch the flag from him 'sent a clear message that any visible solidarity with Palestine would be met with hostility.' Staff demanded that the organization withholds 'our productions from institutions that legitimize and economically support a state engaged in the mass killing of civilians.' More than 61,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, killing some 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostage. The letter also took aim at what it called the RBO's 'hypocritical' stance, citing the organization's support for Ukraine following Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. 'We understood then that silence was unacceptable. Why is it different now? Why is Palestinian suffering met with silence, while Ukrainian suffering was met with action? The double standard is deafening,' it said. Beard, the chief executive, said in a statement reported in UK media that the RBO's support for Ukraine was 'aligned with the global consensus at the time,' but that 'as the world's geopolitics have become more complex, our stance has changed to ensure that our actions reflect our purpose and values.' He said he was 'appalled by the crisis in Gaza' and that the RBO acknowledges and respects 'the full range of views held by our staff, artists and audiences.' Artists for Palestine UK, an activist group, praised the RBO's decision to cancel the production in Israel, claiming 'never before has the management of such an institution responded with immediate action.' Alarm over the suffering in Gaza has reached new heights in recent months since Israel put the enclave under a blockade, causing Palestinians to die of starvation and malnutrition. Following the lead of French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the UK would recognize a Palestinian state in September unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire in Gaza. The RBO's production of 'Tosca' will premiere in London in September. The Israeli Opera website has since removed all reference to the planned production.
CNN
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
British opera company pulls performance in Israel after staff backlash
The Royal Ballet and Opera (RBO), one of Britain's most prestigious arts institutions, has canceled its planned production of 'Tosca' in Israel after a widespread staff backlash. In a recent open letter, 182 members of staff said they 'reject' holding current or future performances in Israel because of its war in Gaza. The RBO had planned to stage the three-act opera, which dramatizes the 'devastation of war,' in collaboration with the Israeli Opera in Tel Aviv next year. But the signatories accused the RBO of having 'chosen to actively support the Israeli state' while its government is 'currently engaged in crimes against humanity' in the besieged Palestinian enclave. Alex Beard, RBO's chief executive, confirmed to CNN Wednesday that the production had been canceled, but said the decision had been taken 'before the recent staff letter was received' and out of 'concerns about the safety of company members in the region, in light of the ongoing conflict.' The letter from staff was prompted by a dispute that broke out within the organization last month after a dancer held up a Palestinian flag during the curtain call for a performance of 'Il Trovatore.' Widely shared videos of the moment showed a fracas between the dancer and a man who stepped from the wings to try to snatch the flag from the dancer's hands. In a statement at the time, reported in UK media, the RBO said the dancer's display was a 'completely inappropriate' and 'unauthorized action' that fell foul of the organization's 'commitment to political impartiality.' However, the organization's response sparked widespread condemnation among staff. In their open letter, RBO staff expressed solidarity with the dancer who unfurled the Palestinian flag. It said that the attempt to snatch the flag from him 'sent a clear message that any visible solidarity with Palestine would be met with hostility.' Staff demanded that the organization withholds 'our productions from institutions that legitimize and economically support a state engaged in the mass killing of civilians.' More than 61,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, killing some 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostage. The letter also took aim at what it called the RBO's 'hypocritical' stance, citing the organization's support for Ukraine following Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. 'We understood then that silence was unacceptable. Why is it different now? Why is Palestinian suffering met with silence, while Ukrainian suffering was met with action? The double standard is deafening,' it said. Beard, the chief executive, said in a statement reported in UK media that the RBO's support for Ukraine was 'aligned with the global consensus at the time,' but that 'as the world's geopolitics have become more complex, our stance has changed to ensure that our actions reflect our purpose and values.' He said he was 'appalled by the crisis in Gaza' and that the RBO acknowledges and respects 'the full range of views held by our staff, artists and audiences.' Artists for Palestine UK, an activist group, praised the RBO's decision to cancel the production in Israel, claiming 'never before has the management of such an institution responded with immediate action.' Alarm over the suffering in Gaza has reached new heights in recent months since Israel put the enclave under a blockade, causing Palestinians to die of starvation and malnutrition. Following the lead of French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the UK would recognize a Palestinian state in September unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire in Gaza. The RBO's production of 'Tosca' will premiere in London in September. The Israeli Opera website has since removed all reference to the planned production.
New York Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
British Opera Company Cancels ‘Tosca' Collaboration in Israel After Criticism
The Royal Ballet and Opera, one of Britain's most prominent arts institutions, has canceled a collaboration with the Israeli Opera to stage 'Tosca' in Tel Aviv next year. The company's chief executive announced the decision to the staff on Friday, noting that an open letter criticizing its approach to Israel and the war in Gaza had been circulating through the ranks. 'We have made the decision that our new production of 'Tosca' will not be going to Israel,' Alex Beard, the Royal Ballet and Opera's chief executive, told the staff. A spokeswoman for the Royal Ballet and Opera said on Tuesday that the Israeli Opera had approached it last year about staging 'Tosca' in a new production by the London company's director of opera, Oliver Mears. Mears's 'Tosca' will premiere in London in September, and the companies had not signed any contracts, the spokeswoman said. But as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza — where more people have been dying of malnutrition — has worsened since Israel restricted aid following the Hamas-led attacks of Oct. 7, 2023, the company's attitude to the collaboration seems to have changed. More than 60,000 Gazans have been killed since Israel began retaliating for the attacks , according to Gaza health officials. About 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed by Palestinian assailants in the 2023 attacks, and about 250 others were taken hostage. The scale of the devastation in Gaza and the mounting global outcry over the Israeli government's actions have pushed Britain and other European countries to be more vocal in their condemnation of Israel in recent weeks. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
