Troubled Melbourne Symphony Orchestra silent over political speech on stage

The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra has refused to say whether it agrees with sacked managing director Sophie Galaise that music concerts should always be safe havens free from political protest.

Sacked Melbourne Symphony Orchestra managing director Sophie Galaise. Picture: Arsineh Houspian

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The troubled Melbourne Symphony Orchestra has refused to say whether it agrees with sacked managing director Sophie Galaise that music concerts should always be safe havens free from political protest.

Ms Galaise said she had been “overwhelmed” with more than 400 messages of support from former colleagues, associates and the public on Tuesday after she broke her silence to hit back at the MSO bard for sacking her over the sidelining of a pianist who attacked ­Israel’s conduct in Gaza.

“I take this opportunity to thank each and every one of them – your words have given me much strength during this time,” said Ms Galaise, who was sacked by the MSO board last week after it backed away from her rebuke of activist pianist Jayson Gillham for his anti-Israel comments during a performance.

But when the MSO was asked on Tuesday whether it agreed with Ms Galaise’s belief that concerts “should be safe havens free from political protest” an MSO spokesperson said it “would not be appropriate to comment” given that former Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett is now conducting a review into the issues raised by the controversy.

“It is crucial that the review be allowed to get on with its important work and encourage the MSO community to support the review process,” the spokesperson said.

Those who offered messages of support for Ms Galaise included former Australia Post chief executive Christine Holgate and former CEO of Queensland Ballet Anna Marsden as well as CEOs from the arts and other fields.

“I have known Sophie for many years and have always been deeply impressed by her outstanding leadership,” Ms Holgate said.

Ms Galaise was sacked in the fallout after Gillham made comments during a performance last month accusing Israel of deliberately assassinating Palestinian journalists in Gaza, which is a war crime.

The comments led to complaints by audience members who said they were offended by being compelled to listen to partisan political comments at a concert. The comments were made despite the MSO having told its musicians that the orchestra was taking a neutral stand on the war in Gaza.

Ms Galaise and her management team responded by sending a letter to Gillham’s audience apologising for his comments and saying he would not perform at another concert later that week.

The decision led to strident criticism of the MSO by pro-­Palestinian groups and two days later the MSO board reversed the decision, saying it was an “error” by MSO management.

The board’s backflip offended Jewish patrons and organisations and failed to appease the pianist who insisted he had a right to speak his mind about the Gaza conflict on stage.

The MSO board sacked Ms Galaise just over a week later, saying it had lost confidence in her.

Ms Galaise told The Australian earlier this week that her sacking was “unfair” and she defended her stand, saying that she believed “the MSO should be a platform that is neutral and focuses on good music”.

“(It) should be a safe haven, a place where people can come and listen to great music and know they are going to be safe,” she said, adding that she was exploring her legal options.