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| Sydney Symphony's neutrality on marriage equality is 'craven' – Leo Schofield | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Sydney Symphony Orchestra has been accused of “craven” behaviour by its inaugural chairman, Leo Schofield, for refusing to take a stance on marriage equality. | The Sydney Symphony Orchestra has been accused of “craven” behaviour by its inaugural chairman, Leo Schofield, for refusing to take a stance on marriage equality. |
| In a statement published on Thursday, the orchestra declared a perfect neutrality on the issue, making it one of only a few major performing arts companies in Australia not to publicly support a yes vote. | In a statement published on Thursday, the orchestra declared a perfect neutrality on the issue, making it one of only a few major performing arts companies in Australia not to publicly support a yes vote. |
| “The SSO strongly supports the rights of all citizens to place on the record their views,” the statement reads. “The company does not feel it has the right to take a position and commit our stakeholders to one side or the other and has decided it should remain neutral. | “The SSO strongly supports the rights of all citizens to place on the record their views,” the statement reads. “The company does not feel it has the right to take a position and commit our stakeholders to one side or the other and has decided it should remain neutral. |
| “We urge all Australians to respect the democratic process of the majority decision, one way or the other.” | “We urge all Australians to respect the democratic process of the majority decision, one way or the other.” |
| The declaration of neutrality came after a strong statement from Schofield, who lambasted the board for shying away from the issue. | The declaration of neutrality came after a strong statement from Schofield, who lambasted the board for shying away from the issue. |
| “On Wednesday, members of the staff of the Sydney Symphony were called together to learn that the board had decided not to publicly support the YES campaign,” Schofield posted to Facebook on Wednesday night. | “On Wednesday, members of the staff of the Sydney Symphony were called together to learn that the board had decided not to publicly support the YES campaign,” Schofield posted to Facebook on Wednesday night. |
| “Every significant arts organisation in the country has nailed its colours to the mast, every arts practitioner worth his or her salt, every thinking patron, sponsor, audience member, supports change. The reason the board, supposedly unanimously, has opted for this course is that they don’t want to politicise music. | “Every significant arts organisation in the country has nailed its colours to the mast, every arts practitioner worth his or her salt, every thinking patron, sponsor, audience member, supports change. The reason the board, supposedly unanimously, has opted for this course is that they don’t want to politicise music. |
| “Utter drivel. Music, even in the pursuit of change, has always been political.” | “Utter drivel. Music, even in the pursuit of change, has always been political.” |
| In past weeks, Opera Australia, the Australian Ballet, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Melbourne Theatre Company, Sydney Theatre Company, Belvoir Theatre Company, Musica Viva, the Bangarra Dance Company and the Malthouse Theatre have all endorsed marriage equality. | In past weeks, Opera Australia, the Australian Ballet, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Melbourne Theatre Company, Sydney Theatre Company, Belvoir Theatre Company, Musica Viva, the Bangarra Dance Company and the Malthouse Theatre have all endorsed marriage equality. |
| But hours after Schofield’s post, the SSO reiterated its neutrality, drawing criticism from many on Twitter. | But hours after Schofield’s post, the SSO reiterated its neutrality, drawing criticism from many on Twitter. |
| Join the arts nation on this, @sydsymph: If you don't see your public cultural leadership role as political, you're in the wrong business. https://t.co/69BIObCzNN | Join the arts nation on this, @sydsymph: If you don't see your public cultural leadership role as political, you're in the wrong business. https://t.co/69BIObCzNN |
| Really can’t express just how profoundly disappointed I am with @sydsymph right now. Right as I have to choose if I will renew my sub. /end | Really can’t express just how profoundly disappointed I am with @sydsymph right now. Right as I have to choose if I will renew my sub. /end |
| Hey @sydsymph I took the liberty of arranging your statement for addition to your musicians' repertoire. pic.twitter.com/Vk2fa23c1p | Hey @sydsymph I took the liberty of arranging your statement for addition to your musicians' repertoire. pic.twitter.com/Vk2fa23c1p |
| Performer Megan Washington, who has been a vocal supporter of marriage equality, performed last week with the SSO. During the concerts, she introduced her new song Futureproof with a prelude about a future world “when all the no voters are gone”; the stage was lit by rainbow lights as she performed. | Performer Megan Washington, who has been a vocal supporter of marriage equality, performed last week with the SSO. During the concerts, she introduced her new song Futureproof with a prelude about a future world “when all the no voters are gone”; the stage was lit by rainbow lights as she performed. |
| Washington told Guardian Australia the orchestra had been “supportive” of her message, which was “clearly pro-same-sex marriage”. | Washington told Guardian Australia the orchestra had been “supportive” of her message, which was “clearly pro-same-sex marriage”. |
| Future Proof @washingtongram @sydneyoperahouse @sydneysymphonyorchestra #equality #marriageequality #auspol #yes #voteyes #loveislove #beontherightsideofhistory | Future Proof @washingtongram @sydneyoperahouse @sydneysymphonyorchestra #equality #marriageequality #auspol #yes #voteyes #loveislove #beontherightsideofhistory |
| A post shared by Erin Chapman (@chaperinman) on Sep 23, 2017 at 4:59am PDT | A post shared by Erin Chapman (@chaperinman) on Sep 23, 2017 at 4:59am PDT |
| On Thursday, following the Sydney Symphony Orchestra’s announcement, the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs made a statement that they “wholeheartedly support” marriage equality. | On Thursday, following the Sydney Symphony Orchestra’s announcement, the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs made a statement that they “wholeheartedly support” marriage equality. |
| “We encourage our singers and supporters, and all Australians, to have their say in the Australian marriage law postal survey,” they said. | “We encourage our singers and supporters, and all Australians, to have their say in the Australian marriage law postal survey,” they said. |
| Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, West Australian Symphony Orchestra, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria, Australian Chamber Orchestra and Australian Brandenburg Orchestra have all publicly supported marriage equality. Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and Queensland Symphony Orchestra have not released statements. | Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, West Australian Symphony Orchestra, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria, Australian Chamber Orchestra and Australian Brandenburg Orchestra have all publicly supported marriage equality. Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and Queensland Symphony Orchestra have not released statements. |
| In August, Opera Australia changed its Facebook picture to a rainbow flag, saying it “proudly supports marriage equality in Australia”. | In August, Opera Australia changed its Facebook picture to a rainbow flag, saying it “proudly supports marriage equality in Australia”. |
| Artistic director of the Australian Ballet, David McAllister, has also lent his company’s support to the issue: “We say yes to marriage equality because we believe that love is love,” he said. On 12 September in Melbourne, during the curtain call for the Australian Ballet’s opening night of its blockbuster production Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, dancers held heart-shaped balloons and “YES” posters in support of same-sex marriage, as the Victorian Opera played the wedding waltz in a sign of solidarity. | Artistic director of the Australian Ballet, David McAllister, has also lent his company’s support to the issue: “We say yes to marriage equality because we believe that love is love,” he said. On 12 September in Melbourne, during the curtain call for the Australian Ballet’s opening night of its blockbuster production Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, dancers held heart-shaped balloons and “YES” posters in support of same-sex marriage, as the Victorian Opera played the wedding waltz in a sign of solidarity. |
| Other groups in the arts sector, including the National Gallery, the Sydney festival and the Media and Entertainment Arts Alliance, have previously publicly backed a yes vote. In March, 34 CEOs of Australian companies wrote to Malcolm Turnbull to legislate marriage equality. | Other groups in the arts sector, including the National Gallery, the Sydney festival and the Media and Entertainment Arts Alliance, have previously publicly backed a yes vote. In March, 34 CEOs of Australian companies wrote to Malcolm Turnbull to legislate marriage equality. |
| This week, Schofield – as well as the SSO’s artist in residence, Brett Dean – were among a list of 100 prominent Australian authors and artists who signed an open letter in support of the yes campaign. | This week, Schofield – as well as the SSO’s artist in residence, Brett Dean – were among a list of 100 prominent Australian authors and artists who signed an open letter in support of the yes campaign. |
| The letter, compiled by Peter Rose, the editor of Australian Book Review, also includes JM Coetzee, David Malouf, Helen Garner, Geraldine Brooks, Kate Grenville and Christos Tsiolkas. | The letter, compiled by Peter Rose, the editor of Australian Book Review, also includes JM Coetzee, David Malouf, Helen Garner, Geraldine Brooks, Kate Grenville and Christos Tsiolkas. |