The International Harp Contest in Israel, originally scheduled for December in Jerusalem, has been canceled after only two participants registered. Italian harpist Claudia Lucia Lamanna, who was set to judge a local harp competition later this month, also withdrew on Friday, citing international pressure.
Founded in 1959 by David Ben-Gurion as part of Israel’s 10th-anniversary celebrations, the competition is considered one of the most prestigious in the world and takes place every three years.
Former Knesset member and current head of the association organizing the contest, Colette Avital, said, “We were supposed to close registration on July 1, but extended it to August 1. In the end, due to low participation, we had to cancel. Last time, 68 competitors took part.”
Avital added that even the competition’s principal partner, harp maker Lyon & Healy, informed organizers that under the current circumstances, they could not participate, marking the first time this has happened. The contest has now been postponed for two years.
A local youth harp competition in Jaffa is still planned for later this month. Lamanna, the 2022 international contest winner, was expected to lead the judging panel, perform at the opening concert, and hold a masterclass. She told organizers she could no longer attend due to pressures, noting that participating could damage her career, as several of her concerts had already been canceled because she was scheduled to perform in Israel.
Avital expressed concern over the impact of the cultural boycott on Israeli artists. “People don’t distinguish between government policy and Israeli artists. In the end, Israeli artists are the ones punished. There is no better ambassador than Israeli culture, and seeing all this collapse before our eyes will leave a mark on us.”
Last week, Britain’s Royal Ballet and Royal Opera canceled a planned production of Puccini’s Tosca at the Israeli Opera after 182 employees signed a letter calling for a boycott of Israeli institutions, accusing them of supporting “a state engaged in the mass killing of civilians” in Gaza. The production had been scheduled to open in Tel Aviv next year.