CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Orchestra has made the decision to cancel its upcoming tour in Israel following the recent terrorist attack from Hamas.
"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," said Cleveland Orchestra officials to 3News. "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."
The Cleveland Orchestra had originally announced that they would be visiting Israel in honor of the 75th anniversary of Israel’s Declaration of Independence in 1948 and the recognition of Israel as an independent state by United States President Harry S. Truman.
The tour was supposed to have performances in Israel at the Haifa Auditorium, Charles Bronfman Auditorium at Tel Aviv Culture Center and the Jerusalem Theatre between Oct. 26-28.
However, the Cleveland Orchestra will still travel to Austria for performances on Oct. 18 and Oct. 20.
Cleveland Orchestra Music Director Franz Welser-Möst was scheduled to conduct the ensemble. but had to withdraw from all engagements from late October until the end of the year as he undergoes treatment after recently having a cancerous tumor removed.
“He plans to resume his conducting engagements in January 2024,” the Orchestra previously said. “His doctors are confident of a full recovery.”
