Virtuoso pianist Valentina Lisitsa was scheduled to perform Rachmaninoff's Concerto #2 at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto on April 8th and 9th, but under pressure from unnamed accusers the Toronto Symphony Orchestra canceled her appearance, accusing her of inciting hatred (a crime in Canada) because of political statements she made on Twitter against the government of Ukraine.

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra shames itself by such acts. Some may recall the case of the Symphony Six - another instance where the Toronto Symphony Orchestra failed to live up to the democratic ideals of free expression, capitulating to McCarthyism and refusing to renew the contracts of musicians merely suspected of being involved with Communist organizations.

TSO President Jeff Melanson's decision was made in this same spirit. He must reverse his ill-advised decision and let Valentina perform on April 8th and 9th!

For more information, including a statement from Valentina Lisitsa, click here:

http://slavyangrad.org/2015/04/06/the-toronto-symphony-orchestra-silences-valentina-lisitsas-music/