Overview

• Flanders Festival Ghent canceled the Munich Philharmonic's Sept. 18 concert, citing Lahav Shani's role with the Israel Philharmonic and his lack of explicit distancing from Israel's government, as well as political pressure and protest calls.
• Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever attended Shani's concert in Essen, spoke with him personally, and reiterated his view that the Ghent cancellation was irresponsible.
• An online petition launched by harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani surpassed 12,500 signatures by Saturday, urging reversal of the exclusion and defending openness and dialogue.
• The Berliner Festspiele invited the orchestra and Shani to a guest concert at Musikfest Berlin on Monday to signal support for artistic freedom and against antisemitism, discrimination, and academic and artistic boycotts.
• Shani, warmly received in Essen, remains slated to become chief conductor of the Munich Philharmonic in 2026.