Concert for “Hope and Unity” cancelled amid hopelessness and division over Greek–Jewish collaboration

A large Greek–Jewish choral show intended to rise funds for the families of victims of the Bondi tragedy has been cancelled, aft divisions within the Greek choir led to the lawsuit being scrapped.

The Concert for Hope and Unity was acceptable to bring together the Australian Hellenic Choir, the Sydney Jewish Choral Society and a starring Australian choir for a two-hour show astatine Sydney Town Hall connected June 28.

However, the performance fell done aft a vote astatine a rehearsal gathering past Monday, where much than fractional of the Hellenic choir members “politically objected” to performing alongside a Jewish choir. Some members besides expressed fears for their idiosyncratic safety, citing concerns astir a imaginable attack.

In a missive to members, Sydney Jewish Choral Society chairwoman Anne Spira confirmed the outcome, writing that the Hellenic Choir was “pulling retired of the concert, which will beryllium cancelled”.

She has since made a submission to the Royal Commission connected Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, with respective choir members besides lodging idiosyncratic submissions anonymously.

“It’s not hard to ideate however we’re each feeling,” 1 said.

Australian Hellenic Choir president James Tsolakis said the determination came arsenic a shock, peculiarly fixed the lawsuit had precocious secured $15,000 successful NSW authorities backing and a confirmed Town Hall booking.

“Every cent was to beryllium dispersed to a foundation to support the families of the victims of the Bondi terror attack,” helium said.

Tsolakis expressed interest astatine the absorption within sections of the community.

“There’s a spot of antisemitism successful the Greek community; I didn’t realise the grade of it. Unfortunately, we person a batch of radical successful the assemblage blaming the Jewish assemblage for what’s happening successful Israel, Palestine … that’s not correct.

“You want to hatred (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu? Hate Netanyahu, but what person the Jewish radical done to you? The whole antisemitism happening has got beryllium wound back.”

He said a premix of factors contributed to the decision, including anxiousness astir the existent governmental clime and concerns astir safety.

“This is each astir bringing radical together utilizing music. This whole gig was mine, I initiated it but I’ve got nary prime but to unopen it down,” helium said.

“I’m highly disappointed. I was not expecting this to hap astatine each arsenic we’d performed with the Jewish choir without immoderate problems successful 2022.

“It would person been a sterling performance.”

The performance was expected to pull an assemblage of up to 2,000 radical and diagnostic a programme centred connected themes of love, bid and unity.

At its bosom was to beryllium The Ballad of Mauthausen, with euphony by Mikis Theodorakis and lyrics by Iakovos Kambanellis — a almighty work telling the story of emotion betwixt a Greek captive and a Jewish captive successful a Nazi attraction camp.

Ms Spira praised Tsolakis’s efforts and recalled the success of a erstwhile associated performance.

“We shared a stage together successful 2022, performing The Ballad of Mauthausen, a philharmonic work profoundly meaningful to some communities. The Mauthausen Trilogy—also known arsenic The Ballad of Mauthausen oregon the Mauthausen Cantata—is a almighty rhythm of 4 arias that brings together the poesy of Holocaust subsister Iakovos Kambanellis and the euphony of composer Mikis Theodorakis, widely regarded arsenic 1 of the astir moving philharmonic works inspired by the Holocaust.

First performed astatine the Mauthausen attraction campy successful Austria successful May 1988 earlier tens of thousands, including Austrian chancellor Franz Vranitzky, the performance was conducted by Theodorakis and featured performances successful Greek, Hebrew and German by Maria Farandouri, Elinor Moav and Gisela May. The work returned to the campy successful 1995 to people 50 years since its liberation, preceded by an code from Nazi huntsman Simon Wiesenthal, aboriginal included successful the recording. Deeply associated with remembrance and reconciliation, the creation has since gained planetary recognition, including a 1991 show astatine the Athens Festival by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra under Zubin Mehta, and continues to resonate arsenic a symbol of memory, bid and taste dialogue.

It was a cleanable illustration of cross-cultural bridge-building and was a large success,” she said.

“In the aftermath of Bondi, Jim (Tsolakis) wanted to bash it each again, this clip billing the lawsuit arsenic a Concert for Hope and Unity.”

She said objections from within the Greek choir, on with fears implicit safety, ultimately led to the cancellation.

“The effect is, similar galore different Jews successful the arts since 7 October, 2023, we person been cancelled,” she said.

“We person been de-platformed and it is profoundly upsetting for us and for the broader Jewish assemblage who person been the target of anti-Jewish racism successful this state for 2½ years.”

Despite the setback, Tsolakis said helium remains committed to aboriginal collaboration, revealing plans to stage a akin show successful Canberra adjacent year pursuing an invitation from the Greek ambassador.

“I person each volition to execute again with the Jewish Choral Society,” helium said.