Posted on 03/22/2025 9:27:30 AM PDT by nwrep
The Hungarian Andras Schiff has announced he will not play in then US during Donald Trump’s presidency.
Schiff, 71, told the NY Times: ‘He has brought an ugliness into this world which hadn’t been there… I just find it impossible to go along with what is happening.’
He is particularly upset by the crackdown on immigrants: ‘When I hear this word deportation, it rings a bell — it rings a terrible bell… ‘My family, my Jewish family, was deported — some to Auschwitz, and some to other concentration camps.’
Full statement:
Dear Friends, Colleagues and Music Lovers, Due to the recent and unprecedented political changes in the United States, I feel morally obligated to withdraw from all engagements in the U.S. for the 2025-2026 season. This is not an easy decision to make. Since the 1970’s the U.S. has been very important in my life, including the many years I lived in New York City. There have been hundreds of concerts and wonderful experiences with excellent orchestras and musicians. Some of my closest friends live in the States. I have a great deal for which to be thankful.
Some people might say, “just shut up and play.” I cannot, in good conscience, do that. We do not live in an ivory tower where the arts are untouched by society. Arts and politics, arts and society are inseparable. Therefore, as artists, we must react to the horrors and injustices of this world. Have we learned nothing from the course of history — as recently as Europe in the 1930s? Perhaps not.
The American people have spoken – and we have heard them. Yes, indeed, there is a “new sheriff in town.” Which has made it a very different “town” — one that some of us no longer wish to visit. It is no longer obligatory. Thank you for your friendship and continued support. Let’s not give up hope for better times.
The pianist, who is married to Japanese violinist Yukio Shiokawa, has previously spoken out against right wing political movements in Austria and Hungary.
It's crazy watching liberals punish their own because "Elmo and Orange Man Bad."
First, we have Kamala voters keying the cars belonging to other Kamala voters and now we have this dude refusing to perform to his paying audience of 100% Kamala-voting Upper West Side liberals.
I am fine with his boycott.
I recall going to one of his concerts here a few years back. Great playing but the subsequent political rant on stage put me off. I won’t miss him.
“crackdown on immigrants”
We need the jobs in the USA and would have no means of taking take of ourselves if immigrants willing to work for a bit less gobbled them up.
If you come from Honduras and work construction in the USA, you can work construction in Honduras and make it a better place.
The goal should be to make much of the world a better place and not to punish American voters who voted for American citizen-favoring candidates like Trump.
How dare he compare Hitler sending Jews and other "undesirables" to Concentration Camps for "Vernichtung" to President Trump deporting illegals back to their countries of origin!
Perhaps President Trump should refer to this process as "repatriation" rather than "deportation."
Regards,
Major classical pianist penis boycotts Trump’s US
How WILL we survive?
Don’t care.
L
It would be more troll-like to invite him to perform at The White House.
The quintessential example of pinhead marketing: "Come hear us because WE SAY we're good."
Gee, what a shame there’s such a desperate shortage of classical pianists in the world.
Add André Previn.
Who?
I’m truly devastated.
(And we thought it was only Hollywood who believed that we care what they think.)
You think I asked for a twelve inch pianist?
Good. Saves some poor kids from being dragged to boring piano concerts.
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