Four musicians in the United Kingdom have been suspended from their job for nine months over opposition to a concert by an Israeli orchestra.The London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) suspended cellist Sue Sutherley and violinists Tom Eisner, Nancy Elan and Sarah Streatfeild until June 2012 after they signed a letter as members of the LPO denouncing the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO) as "an instrument of Israel's propaganda," the Guardian reported on Friday.
LPO officials said in a statement that the suspensions send "a strong and clear message that their actions will not be tolerated."
They said the LPO "has no wish to end the careers of four talented musicians, but for the LPO, music and politics do not mix."
"Denials of human rights
One man's rights are another man's existential threat.
and violations of international law are hidden behind a cultural smokescreen. The IPO is perhaps Israel's prime asset in this campaign. Israel's policy towards the Paleostinians fits the UN definition of apartheid," the statement added.
The IPO's concert was interrupted by the protesters on September 1. The state-run BBC suspended its live coverage of the concert, although the Israeli orchestra completed its performance.
| To their credit, the BBC played a cleaned up recording of the performance the next week, with all sound and sight of the protesters removed. |