Politics Morning Star
‘Orchestras everywhere!’ France’s protest orchestra backs music for the strikers despite police assault
FRANCE’S New World Orchestra issued a rallying cry to musicians to play in support of strikes and protests across the country today. “Orchestras everywhere, silence nowhere!” the orchestra’s social me
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FRANCE’S New World Orchestra issued a rallying cry to musicians to play in support of strikes and protests across the country today.
“Orchestras everywhere, silence nowhere!” the orchestra’s social media post read, calling for musicians to make “orchestras resonate throughout France to mark the convergence of struggles.”
The orchestra, co-founded by conductor Etienne Jarrier in 2022, is known for bringing together professional and amateur classical musicians to play at demonstrations for climate and social justice.
It hit international headlines last month when CRS riot police fired tear-gas grenades at its members playing to support anti-austerity protests in Paris’s Place de la Republique on October 17.
The musicians kept playing while gas canisters exploded around them, but when Mr Jarrier realised the police were targeting the musicians deliberately and projectiles began exploding in their musical instrument cases, some of which caught fire, he instructed them to stop for their safety.
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