Last night a BBC spokesman said: “The Proms is not a political platform and all artists are booked on the basis of their musical excellence.”
proms hijacked
BBC accused of turning the Proms into a platform for anti-Brexit fanatics
BBC bosses are under fire after the Proms classical music festival was hijacked by anti-Brexit stunts twice in one weekend.
Renowned conductor Daniel Barenboim ranted against the UK leaving the EU and had a German orchestra play Elgar’s Land of Hope of Glory in protest at the Royal Albert Hall on Sunday.
It came just 48 hours after pianist Igor Levit performed the official EU anthem unexpectedly on Friday night during an encore.
The BBC defended the impromptu performance of Beethoven’s Ode To Joy as an “artistic choice”.
But the brazen interventions sparked uproar from Tory MPs, who slammed the BBC for giving a platform to “Euro-fanatics.”
They were left incensed by a long speech from the conductor’s podium at London’s world famous music venue on Sunday night and broadcast on TV and radio.
Classical music supremo Daniel Barenboim, 74, hit out at “isolationist tendencies and nationalism in its very narrow sense is something that is very dangerous”.
And he hinted that Brits voted to leave the EU because of a lack knowledge, saying “the main problem of today is that there is not enough education.”
And in an interview also broadcast by the BBC before the live show, he claimed English composing hero Edward Elgar “makes the best case against Brexit because this is European music.”
Romford MP Andrew Rosindell said: “For the BBC to allow this shows their actively letting Euro-fanatics voice their views, whilst ignoring the democratic majority.
He added: “The BBC must be neutral, if its not that is wrong and can’t continue, its harming Britain.”
Beethovens ‘Ode to Joy?’ I have never heard anything so miserable in my life as this suicidally depressing noise. I hate to think what Beethoven would have written if he had actually been feeling depressed!
“If it wasn’t for the English you’d all be Spanish”
The BBC actually visited one of the best Schools in London. I think it was Jeremy Paxman who visited the School.
The better educated young Brexit supporters won the vote amongst the posh school kids by concentrating on the un-democratic governance and corruption of the European Union, as well as the lack of democratic control of issues and the fact that territories similar to Britain not in the EU, have a much higher standard of living. As well as the fact that the common external tariff isolates Britain from the Commonwealth and all the other friendly nations in the World, such as Trumps America.
Also I remember that the Brexiteers in a school in Beverley also won by educating fellow pupils on issues censored by the evil left-wing teachers.
But from what I think is BBC policy. I expect there will by boos and violence by Remainiacs at Last Night of the Proms, especially when Rule Britannia is played.
Hitler would have had a German orchestra play Elgar’s Land of Hope of Glory at the Royal Albert Hall, in homage to the new Prime Minister, Oswald Mosley, followed by God Save the King, in homage to the restored King Edward VIII. Followed by any other piece that could further European unity amongst fascists in nations such as Germany, Britain, France, Italy and Spain.
But the irony is on the ignorant Pro-EU types who seem to be the same people who are against the Grammar Schools that could have taught them about the much more diverse rest of the World, such as the Commonwealth and the Queens 16 Realms and 100 Territories. As well as teaching children the idea of experiencing extroverted diversity by travelling the world, rather than staying at home and use the Navy to bring everyone to the European Union, so that left-wing middle class morons can experience introverted diversity by turning every European city into a Multicultural Zoo.
There was yet another example of ‘casual’ BBC bias on a Radio 4 prog’ about the new conductor at the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (at around 21:45-21:50 on Tuesday). Contributors here have noted how frequent anti-Trump remarks have become on the arts show ‘Front Row’ (R4, weekdays from 19:15). It was more of the same here.
Some man was talking about the value of music in the world today and described the horror of following the US Presidential Election results in November 2016. I think we can all guess why he and the arty types might be upset. Of course, you could argue that it was terrifying that a widely discredited serial liar, self-enricher and self-aggrandizer like Hillary Clinton was even the Democrat candidate, let alone that so many voted for her, and that the lack of scrutiny of Obama’s two terms by the MSM did the US political system no favours. But anything that restricts free movement and closes borders is bad in Lefty La La Land, where they see themselves as citizens of the world and refuse to acknowledge just how much the nation state does to make their privileged lives possible.
Just another another day at the BBC I am afraid.
Whilst Barenboim is highly regarded within his field – what the BBC does, is give these precious “artistic egos” licence to drop all pretensions of proffessionality in order to push their own personal agenda (as long as it tallies with the BBC one). You cant expect these luvvie types to “get it” – because even when they produce a “wet fart” they will get praised.
They do not live in the real world – just like the BBC.
i
I don’t think that’s entirely fair. Although I don’t agree with everything Barenboim says, he does at least put his money where his mouth is and makes attempts to remove divisions in the Middle East by actually spending time there. He has lived in Israel and knows it well. Imagine that! Instead of just talking about unity he is a co founder of the West–Eastern Divan Orchestra, based in Seville.
Classical musicians, IMO, are more down to earth than the likes of, say, Emma Thompson. Actors are, almost by definition, all talk, and talk is what you get. Being a musician is a practical challenge as much as anything and maintaining a high standard doesn’t leave a great deal of time for the sort of windbaggery that the acting profession seems to specialise in these days. Or, for that matter, standing on a barge hurling abuse at unemployed fishermen.
There are plenty of actors, comedians etc around these days with no real talent other than grabbing attention, as hours of unintelligible dialogue in modern movies demonstrate, but you can’t fake your way through a piano concerto.
It’s not surprising that the BBC keeps focussing on Barenboim, they don’t have many people in his profession to choose from.
J
“I don’t think that’s entirely fair”
I agree with you.
Acclaimed classical musicians are always very well educated, highly intelligent, usually fluent in several languages, have a profound and expert knowledge of their field.
This does not mean they have a profound understanding of matters outside their area of expertise. As most letters to the Times praising the latest hare-brained scheme from The Labour Party (because it is the Labour Party) signed by various “celebrities” and “academics”, attest.
The Website “BBC Watch”, whose stated purpose is to adduce instances of BBC bias towards Israel, seems to have efficient filters and sieves, which nearly obliterate any mention of BBC bias towards non Jews.
Unlike BBBC, very unlike BBBC.
I always presume that Jews have an additional, Jewish, axe to grind; whatever else they may appear to be supporting. The historical record demonstrates that this is a safer position for Gentiles to adopt.
TruthSeeker,
BBC Watch is not ‘obliterating’ anything but simply concentrating on BBC bias against Israel – which is plentiful and vitriolic.
Daniel Barenboim is living proof that a man can be a great musician and an idiot at the same time.
“Last night a BBC spokesman said”
I’m sure they will have heaps more to say re the referendum result as I’m sure most of um have never had a decent nights sleep since our wonderful, gorgeous, beautiful, soul lifting irreversible victory for future generations of our children!
And in an interview also broadcast by the BBC before the live show, he claimed English composing hero Edward Elgar “makes the best case against Brexit because this is European music.”
How so? Is it because many composers were from Europe, therefore Elgar is playing European music, and it follows that we must be in political union in the EU.
If this is his argument then I posit that em waves were predicted by Maxwell, radio and TV were invented by British inventors, therefore all TV and radio broadcasts by all musicians are British.
I agree though that education standards have fallen. In schools of music, education in music apart, it never existed in the first place. To equate playing European music with political union in an undemocratic EU, is an indication of a very poor education.
Further, as a lot high grade violinists are from China, Japan or Korea, it follows that these countries be forced to join the EU.
‘Classical music supremo Daniel Barenboim, 74, hit out at “isolationist tendencies and nationalism in its very narrow sense is something that is very dangerous”.’
A really sharp, intelligent, quick-witted BBC news presenter might get Mr Barenboim in front of a microphone and ask “You dislike isolationist tendencies and nationalism, yet you support the EU. Why?”
I think people should read what Barenboim actually said in its entirety, rather than the spin that certain people in the press have put on it and, in some instances, the lies. The comments are overwhelmingly about education, and not just in Britain. To link this speech to some sort of “fanaticism” is just plain ridiculous. Can’t help wondering why the whole thing wasn’t posted in the first place.
“Ladies and gentlemen I hope you will bear with me – there are some words I would like to say today that I would like to share with you. I don’t know if all of you will agree with me, but I would really like to share them.
But first of all, I would to thank this wonderful orchestra not for being wonderful – this is what they are.
But, for having agreed to postpone their holiday for a week or maybe more in order to be able to come to the Proms this weekend, to play for you the Elgar Symphonies is something that is very important to them. They really fell in love with this music and they really wanted to bring this to London. And I am very grateful they are only going on holiday tomorrow.
And I would like to share with you some feelings or thoughts which I have. Not political.
Not political, but rather of a human concern. When I look at the world with so many isolation tendencies, I get very worried. And I know I am not alone.
You know – I was – I lived in this country for many years. I was married in this country. I lived in this here for many years. I was shown so much affection whilst I lived here. That this gave me the impetus if you want to say what I would like to say.
I think that the main problem today is not the policies of this country or of that country. The main problem of today is that there is not enough education.
That there is not education for music we have known that for a long time, but now there is not enough education about whom we are, about what is a human being and how is he to relate to with other of the same kind.
That’s why I say it’s not political but that it is of human concern. And if you look at the difficulties that the European continent is going through now, you can see that, why that it is, because of the lack of common education. Because in one country they do not know why they should belong to something that the other countries do. And I’m not talking about this country now I’ll come to that. I’m talking in general. You know our profession, the musical profession, is the only one, that is not national. No German musician will tell you – ‘I am a German music and I will only play Brahms, Schumann and Beethoven’
We had very good proof of it tonight. If let me stay out of Great Britain – if a French citizen wants to learn Goethe he must have a translation. But he doesn’t need a translation for the Beethoven symphonies. This is important. This is why music is so important. And this isolationist tendencies and nationalism in its very narrow sense, is something that is very dangerous and can only be fought with a real great accent on the education of the new generation. We are probably too old for that. But the new generation need to understand that Greece and Germany and France and Denmark all have something in common, called European culture.
Not only Europe. Culture. This is the most important thing. And of course in this cultural community called Europe there is a place for diverse cultures. For different cultures. For different ways of looking at things. But this can only be done with education. And the fanaticism that exists in the world with religious backgrounds and can only be fought with education.
Religious fanaticism cannot be fought with arms alone. The real evil of the world can only be fought with a humanism that keeps us all together. Including you. And I’m going to show you I really mean it.”
Joseph, that is interesting – he’s almost having a go at radical Islam, although it’s not specifically mentioned. I wonder if the ‘Brexit’ angle was played up in the news as a distraction from that? I still don’t think the Proms is the right place for pontificating though. It’s about music, not personal opinions.
“I still don’t think the Proms is the right place for pontificating though. It’s about music, not personal opinions.”
Agree entirely. I don’t think it’s a particularly good speech either, but then perhaps it wasn’t planned. It reads as though it wasn’t.
Cranmer,
If Barenboim had balls , he would have been specific about Islam. He is a coward .
Joseph… and there was time for music as well!
Joseph, you make a good point!
but
“And this isolationist tendencies and nationalism in its very narrow sense, is something that is very dangerous and can only be fought with a real great accent on the education of the new generation.”
in that context begs another question: “Mr Barenboim, are you seriously suggesting that all children within the EU should be educated in every single EU language so that they can speak, write and READ it?” “Over forty different languages, really, for the EU in its present size? You cannot be serious!”
Joseph,
I read it . He has nothing to say about Islam being the biggest threat to civilisation. He is just an ignorant snowflake, masturbating. Danny, boy, stick to the music !!!
No wonder people like David Preiser went elsewhere.
Joseph,
You know David ? Great guy !
Barenboim says ‘ that the main problem of today is that there is not enough education’…… exactly! that’s why we have so many snowflakes and SJW’s today, my era of education produced skilled tradesmen and professionals able to stand on their own two feet and think for themselves!
Daniel Barenboim is a great musician . I still have a vinyl of his which my Dad gave me in the 1960s. Beethoven piano sonatas. Apart from music, his opinions on anything are no more valid than mine. What I hate about people like him, and there are many, is that they use their fame in one field to try and influence people’s opinions in other areas. Daniel, love your music, but apart from that, why don’t you just shut the F up ?
I posted up on the site as it was happening.They interviewed him before the performance too . I was so incensed .Barenboim lecturing about Elgars music not being English ,in fact its European music and very anti Brexit .These were his words .
I was so annoyed because I pretty much boycott the BBC for this very reason but thought the Proms would be safe.
This pampered musician is now off my listening list. How much of my money did the BBC pay him to appear.We the tax payer are getting shafted every way by the BBC.
Deborahanother
Join the Peasants Telly Tax Revolt .
Just don’t pay .
Straight down the memory hole, Alan/David.
Inconvenient facts must be vapourised, strange BBBC objects when the World’s Most Trusted Broadcaster does it.
Point out one, just one , statement of mine that can you can disprove.
I will look for your response tomorrow.
So there it is for all to see.
My statements were totally correct. Although politically incorrect.
Pass the tippex please, BBBC is, again, controlled by puppet masters working against the West.
Which is worse, dancing when the strings are pulled. Or saying “gottle of geer” when one privates are being tampered with?
I watched Daniel Barenboim’s lecture on cultural affinity of European nations. RT had a segment. It was clear he was referring to Brexit. Whatever gave him the idea that Britain was withdrawing from European culture just because we were going to govern ourselves as a sovereign nation should, instead of being ruled by a coterie of un-elected Marxists in Brussels.
The UK was part of European culture, always has been, long before the EU was even a thought. But the UK is more then that. It looks outwards. We have links with USA, Canada, Australia and NZ, and India etc. I could just as easily say that Daniel Barenboim was a “little European”. In fact, the EU is just that.
So, in Daniel Barenboim’s next appointment in America, is he going to opine from the conductor’s platform on AGW, Climate Change, the Wall, and Trump?
When the subject of Brexit crops up and I am talking to Remainers, I usually say ‘I am very pro-European.’ I get nods of approval all round. I then add ‘However I am very anti-EU’. This then forces Remainers to come up with arguments as to why the EU is good for Europe, and they usually struggle to do this. What people don’t seem to realise is that there are so many pan-European organisation which have nothing to do with the EU – eg, Interpol, NATO etc plus all the cultural links organisations etc. These will not cease to exist after Brexit and indeed will probably become more important. They have got this idea in their heads however that EU = Europe.
The EU is not Europe, or European culture. The idea that it is, and that Europe has had 50 years of peace because of the EU, is fostered by the EU.
This is bad education. Something Daniel Barenboim complains about. For instance, Islam is not the progenitor of science and maths, as the BBC likes to impress Western civilisation is not based on Islam. More bad education. No education, like a no deal, is better then a bad education.