Santa Monica Symphony Roiled by Conservative Guest Conductor

Source: The New York Times | August 7, 2017 | Sopan Deb

It was supposed to be a dazzling opportunity for the Santa Monica Symphony Orchestra — a volunteer ensemble of professional and semiprofessional musicians led by Guido Lamell — to play the prestigious Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles for a fund-raiser. Mr. Lamell, music director of the orchestra, invited the conservative talk show host and columnist Dennis Prager as guest conductor for the event.

But that decision caused immediate outrage among some members of the symphony, and a number of them are refusing to play the fund-raiser, saying that allowing the orchestra to be conducted by Mr. Prager, who has suggested that same-sex marriage would lead to polygamy and incest, among other contentious statements, would be tantamount to endorsing and normalizing bigotry. Some are even encouraging others not to attend the concert.

Donations to the symphony had declined this season, Mr. Lamell said. And he told members in an email in March that there was a “serious shortfall,” to underscore the necessity of the fund-raiser, explaining that Mr. Prager’s following could bring in sorely needed ticket sales. Mr. Prager, who has a deep love of classical music, would be leading the orchestra in a performance of Haydn’s Symphony No. 51.

But conservatives, including Mr. Prager, are crying foul. A number of right-wing media outlets have brought attention to the symphony, with some painting the musicians as intolerant of dissenting views.

Mr. Prager said in an email, “To the extent that the event has been rendered political, it was done solely by the people who chose to make it political — by publicly urging orchestra members not to play that night and urging people not to attend.”

This is a key point of contention for Mr. Prager, who said that this night was strictly about music, not politics.

“I have never used a conducting appearance to make a political point,” Mr. Prager said. “In fact, I was particularly pleased to help the orchestra of one of the most liberal cities in America to make the point that great music should transcend political differences.”

The conflict came to a head on Monday when Mr. Apter appeared on Mr. Prager’s show to discuss why he was refusing to perform in a concert conducted by Mr. Prager, as well as what he found so objectionable about Mr. Prager’s political views. Mr. Apter cited Mr. Prager’s rhetoric toward gays and his criticism of Representative Keith Ellison of Minnesota being sworn in on a Quran, among other examples. Mr. Prager objected to being described as a bigot.

“What you folks on the left have done is taken these terms and you have disemboweled them,” Mr. Prager said on his show. “You have removed all seriousness of them. You use the terms of the bigoted, racist and hateful so regularly, it doesn’t mean a thing to most Americans.”

Mr. Apter responded, “The same exact argument could be made from my direction toward your community.”

Mr. Lamell, for his part, and the orchestra’s board of directors, are standing staunchly behind the invitation to Mr. Prager to conduct. The performance is to continue as scheduled on Aug. 16 and Mr. Lamell expects more than 70 musicians to show up, right around the average number, but he acknowledged that he had never before had members of the ensemble dropping out because of politics.

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  • Woodcutter #17989

    Mr. Prager is certainly gracious toward Mr. Lamell and the board for standing by him — and he said as much with the slight hint of a shot at his critics.

    “They are true liberals,” Mr. Prager said. “Liberals, by definition, are open-minded. And they really care about helping their orchestra.”

    EVERYDAY #17992

    Pathetic. These musicians would rather see the symphony go under than put their personal politics aside for one night. They might be out of a job in the near future if the show doesn’t go on, but by golly, they stuck to their politics. I want to see how their political affiliation will put food on the table and a roof over their heads.

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