The Cleveland Orchestra Cancels Upcoming Tour of Israel

The group will give two concerts in Austria this October, but will forgo the three scheduled tour dates in Haifa, Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem

The Cleveland Orchestra will not go ahead with its tour of Israel, which was scheduled for October 2023, in light of the ongoing violence in the Gaza strip.

Three concerts were planned for the tour: at the Haifa Auditorium (October 26), at the Charles Bronfman Auditorium at Tel Aviv Culture Center (October 27), and at the Jerusalem Theatre (October 28).

The British conductor Daniel Harding was scheduled to lead the Israel-based concerts. However, the orchestra's music director Franz Welser-Möst will now conduct two concerts in Austria, and the rest of the tour will not take place.

"The safety of our musicians and staff is a top priority, and this decision was based on State Department guidelines in consultation with security advisors," the orchestra wrote in a statement. "The orchestra will still travel to Austria to perform concerts in Vienna on October 18 and Linz on October 20."

"Our thoughts are with friends and family in Israel right now, and we hope for their continued safety."