The Toronto Symphony Orchestra's decision to dump a star pianist over her inflammatory tweets about Ukraine has readers, print and digital, both booing the TSO – and giving it a standing ovation
.......................................................................................................................................................................
Pianist Valentina Lisitsa does much more than hold strong political views on Ukraine. She aggressively puts racist tweets in the public sphere.
I commend the Toronto Symphony Orchestra for refusing to ignore that. No cultural institution of its stature should.
Uliana M. Pasicznyk, Toronto
.........
So the TSO says it's taken a principled position by excising Valentina Lisitsa from its programing? Perhaps it would have been more principled and effective to allow her to play and let empty seats in the hall demonstrate displeasure with Ms. Lisitsa's rather unpalatable political meanderings.
Except I doubt that those putting pressure on the TSO, or the TSO itself, trust its patrons to rebut Ms. Lisitsa. So now I wait with bated breath for further announcements that, in keeping with the orchestra's continued principled stand on political and social issues, it will no longer perform works by anti-Semitic and otherwise racist composers of the ilk of Stravinsky, Chopin, Liszt or Wagner.
Christopher Jackson, Orillia, Ont.
.........
The TSO, as an "employer," was placed in a Catch-22 position by Ms. Lisitsa's uncivil remarks. Her abuse of Ukraine's government could not be ignored. In an age of tweets, words can be just as damaging as physical insults.
Helen Schiele, Kelowna, B.C.
.........
To what sanctions might the TSO subject me, if I tweeted a picture of the posterior of three horses, labelled "TSO Management"?
Geoff Williams, Stratford, Ont.
.......
Jeff Melanson, the TSO's CEO, was hoping Ms. Lisitsa would "move on to the rest of her concerts without drawing this level of attention to our decision and the rationale behind it."
Patrons deserve transparency and accountability when the TSO takes the bold step of censoring musical expression based on the artist's personal views.
We deserve to know the orchestra's policy on this, and what due diligence is done when potential performers are being vetted.
Bravo to Valentina Lisitsa that she did not go gentle into that good night.
Gilda Berger, Toronto
.........
We should not absolve Roman Polanski's transgressions because of his creative talent, nor should we pardon Mel Gibson's racist remarks because of his stature as an actor. To argue that Ms. Lisitsa's hateful propaganda should be ignored and divorced from her concerts is a moral cop-out.
Natalka and William Zyla, Toronto
.........
I have no skin in the Kremlin vs. Ukraine game. But to those who are criticizing the TSO for mixing politics with music, bear in mind that it was the pianist, Valentina Lisitsa, who initiated that process. Anyone who earns a living in public is always in the public eye. It may well be that the goldfish bowl in which Ms. Lisitsa resides is not exactly Lady Gaga-sized, but it exists nonetheless. So her opinions are out there, and she should know that – and by extension, how hurtful those opinions can be to some. (The references to nazism don't exactly further her credibility.)
Perhaps the TSO could have handled this mess a bit more adroitly – but it is not a mess of their making.
Alan Rosenberg, Toronto
.........
Since TSO management has seen fit to censure an artist over her political comments, it is only fair that it gives its potential audience the same chance.
I therefore request that when the TSO next sends out its subscription renewal notices, it should include the social media contact information for all performers, including members of the TSO, so we can scrutinize what they say and drop the ones holding views we do not like.
See Pak Cheung, Toronto
.........
She has the right to say what she wants. TSO has the right to cancel concerts. Actions have consequences.
The TSO isn't stopping her from saying what she wants; they are saying we don't have to associate with someone who says those things.
Janet Morris Levis, Ottawa
............................................................................................................................................................................
ON REFLECTION Letters to the editor
On Mr. Harper's watch
Re Duffy's Trips Were For Tory Business, Lawyer Says (April 10): The Constitution requires that all senators reside in the province they represent. Mike Duffy's living arrangements are unchanged from the day Stephen Harper appointed him: If Mr. Duffy's PEI house doesn't qualify as a primary residence, he was never qualified to be in the Senate and collect a salary, let alone claim expenses.
It's the Prime Minister's obligation to ensure that his Senate appointees qualify for the position. Why is Mr. Duffy on trial, and not the PM?
Simon Ladell, Port Alberni, B.C.
.........
Get rid of one-way streets
Re Cameras Favoured Over Lower Speed Limits For Safer Streets (April 10): Another idea to slow traffic: Get rid of residential one-way streets.
Meeting another car encourages slower, safer driving. And kids won't grow up thinking they only have to look in one direction to be safe.
Stagger parking on both sides of the street, so driving is a slalom rather than a drag race.
Instead of relying on regulation, use the clues that drivers use.
Ted Syperek, Toronto
.........
Oversight is worth it
Re No Cameras On Cops (April 10): A letter writer worries that cameras on cops will lead to increased state surveillance in public and private spaces.
Whenever she enters most businesses (government offices, banks, corner stores), cameras record her; her picture is taken at ATMs and traffic cameras. She could be recorded at any time by anyone with a cellphone. The small increase in video footage of any one person is a small price to pay for the vastly increased oversight of the police that will result from body cameras.
Tony Peterson, Ottawa
.........
If you can't beat 'em …
Re Raccoon Wars (April 10): After trying everything to discourage the beasties, I've switched to: If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.
At night, I put out leftovers: bones, fish skins, stale bread etc. in a low-sided container. (Anything else goes in the compost). By morning, nothing is left. Raccoons are tidy eaters when food is readily available.
They also use the litter box I put out to avoid any thank you gifts they may leave for me to scrape up.
Friends and neighbours think I'm mad, of course.
Wendy Boyd, Toronto
.......................................................................................................................................................................
Letters to the Editor should be exclusive to The Globe and Mail. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. Try to keep letters to fewer than 150 words. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. To submit a letter by e-mail, click here: letters@globeandmail.com