Violinist Itzhak Perlman cancels performance over LGBT law

[KamaAina]

https://www.yahoo.com/music/violinist-itzhak-perlman-cancels-north-carolina-performance-183807457.html

World-renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman said he canceled his Wednesday performance with the North Carolina Symphony after he was told he would not be able to include a personal statement opposing the state's new law limiting antidiscrimination policies for LGBT people in the event program.

In an interview with the Associated Press on Tuesday, Perlman said he will not perform in North Carolina until the law is reversed....

Perlman had said he wanted to proceed with the concert to support the 66 professional musicians employed by the symphony in Raleigh. He said he intended to donate the concert proceeds to LGBT advocacy group Equality North Carolina following the lead of musicians like Cyndi Lauper and comedian Louis C.K.

But Perlman reversed the decision Tuesday after he said symphony management told him they could not print his opposition to the bill in the program.

[pangaia]

1. Bravo, IZZY !!!!!!!!!!!!

[zentrum]

2. Good man!

[hatrack]

3. Thank you, Maestro!

[Demoiselle]

4. Good for him!

[Mendocino]

5. When more than the music

is classic! Bravo!

[Thespian2]

6. Bravo!!!

and when I lived in Raleigh, the symphony orchestra was outstanding...

[HuckleB]

7. He is amazing.

I support him, 110 percent.

[Skittles]

8. thanking Mr. Perlman

[Duval]

9. NC loses, again.

We have a couple of Perlman's excellent albums and we wanted to hear him. Sigh!

[Mira]

10. I am tearfully loving this hero of mine

Thank you for your support Itzhak Perlman. It is a really rough time here in NC, thanks for recognizing we need help.

[mnhtnbb]

11. Perlman's statement

This is the statement he posted on his fb page

Itzhak Perlman
10 hours ago

As my fans know, I have spent a lifetime advocating against discrimination towards those with physical disabilities and have been a vocal advocate for treating all people equally. As such, after great consideration, I have decided to cancel my May 18th concert in North Carolina with the North Carolina Symphony as a stand against House Bill 2. As Attorney General Loretta Lynch recently stated, HB2 “is about a great deal more than just bathrooms. [It] is about the dignity and respect we accord our fellow citizens.” I couldn’t agree more and will look forward to returning to North Carolina when this discriminatory law is repealed.

https://www.facebook.com/Itzhakperlmanofficial/?fref=ts&rf=108067932559267

[KamaAina]

12. For those of you just joining us, Itzhak Perlman has a disability.

He uses crutches due to polio. So he's a member of two oppressed groups, Jews and the disabled.

[Jack Rabbit]

13. !!

[sarge43]

14. Thank you, sir.

[Iggo]

15. No art for you!

[leftynyc]

16. Nicely done, Mr. Perlman

I had the honor of hearing him play up in Tanglewood (MA). He was magnificent.

[SpankMe]

17. He played it right (no pun intended)

He didn't cancel because of the law - he was going to perform anyway and use the venue to make a statement. But, they wouldn't even let him do that. So, it was only after that that he cancelled - which is about the best way that could have gone.

I might have gone anyway, and made an oral statement from the stage. Once you're at that point, they can't really stop you from speaking without embarrassing themselves.

[KansDem]

18. Give 'em the big V-I, Maestro!!