AND FINALLY

The Prom season sounded a bum note by inviting the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra to play on Thursday (1st) evening at the Royal Albert Hall, which went ahead despite protests due to the cultural boycott of Israel and the orchestra’s self-proclaimed partnership with the IDF.

The first interruption came in the form of a 15-piece choir standing to perform a free Palestine number. Once security had managed to haul them all outside, the orchestra carried on, no doubt relieved the disruption had ended. Unfortunately for them they were cut short once again as four protesters began shouting from the stalls. The BBC continued to broadcast for a couple of minutes, before deciding the right to free speech had gone too far and went off air. Eventually the four were forced to join the harmony on the pavement outside, but satisfied that at least they’d staved off a cultural propaganda attack and scored a minor victory without the need for a cadenza. (OK. we’ll refrain from any more...)