Protests as Israel Philharmonic Launches Four-Concert Series at Carnegie Hall

In Thursday’s (10/16) New York Times, Adam Nagourney writes, “The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, a frequent guest at Carnegie Hall for almost 75 years, is accustomed to being greeted by anti-Israel demonstrations as its players arrive for work on West 57th Street. On Wednesday, when the Philharmonic began four nights of concerts at Carnegie, a smattering of demonstrators were there again, protesting the Israeli military’s killing of civilians in Gaza in the two years since the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas in Israel…. This high-profile run of concerts by the Israel Philharmonic, led by its music director Lahav Shani, takes place … just days after Israel and Hamas agreed to a cease-fire. For two years, protesters have targeted cultural events around the world—particularly those involving Israeli artists—to demonstrate against the Israeli military campaign in Gaza…. Even as he defended the right to protest, Shani questioned why protests of the Israeli government policy were directed against the orchestra, a private organization, independent of the government…. At Carnegie Hall on Wednesday, barely 20 demonstrators lined up single file, many with faces covered … Shani … seemed visibly relieved at the civility inside the hall.”