A court hears testimony in a dispute involving the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s (MSO) decision to cancel pianist Jayson Gillham’s performance, following controversy over comments he made on stage referencing the Gaza conflict. Multiple outlets report that the former managing director of the MSO denies that he led a push to cancel Gillham’s concert. The former orchestra chief says the cancellation was not due to Gillham’s Gaza-related remarks. Instead, he tells the court that the issue was that Gillham did not have prior authorisation to make the on-stage comments.
The pianist also gives evidence and is suing the MSO for wrongful dismissal, according to reports. He claims he kept the orchestra “in the dark” about his intention to speak out on Gaza, and that the orchestra’s handling of the situation contributed to the cancellation and his dismissal.
The proceedings focus on competing accounts of what prompted the MSO to cancel the concert and what Gillham and MSO management knew in advance, alongside allegations that the former executive’s actions contributed to the outcome. The reports describe scrutiny of the former chief’s testimony in light of the broader Israel/Palestine-related controversy.
