[Nettime-bold] FYI Conductor Pierre Boulez 'detained' as possible terrorist

[Willard Uncapher <willard@well.com>]

Speaking of weirdness, here's one for the war on terrorism which I just
read. Considering the reason why they nabbed Pierre Boulez, it looks like
a lot of folks might be 'suspect.'  What have *you* been doing for
the last 40 years?  Alas, Boulez once said that all the opera houses
should be blown up. Considering he was also named conductor of the year
in England this year, he may get off. One suspects, considering this
cate, that having US Executive Branch's Military Courts trying people
based on 'secret evidence' might prove less than democratic, although I
didn't say that, you understand. Just takes a majority to 'get rid of
one's mistakes with a death penalty (no appeal). Good thing his name was
not something like Mona Hatoum, Ghada Amer, Jamelie Hassan, Houria Niati,
Shirin Neshat, Zaha Hadid, Walid Ra'ad, Seta Manoukian, Shirazeh
Houshiary, Shahzia Sikander, and so on.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/europe/newsid_1692000/1692628.stm

BBC Tuesday, 4 December, 2001, 23:47 GMT 
Conductor held over 'terrorism' 

By the BBC's James Coomarasamy 
 
One of the world's most famous conductors was briefly detained by Swiss police on suspicion of being linked to terrorist activities. 

Frenchman Pierre Boulez had his passport confiscated in the town of Basle where he had been conducting at a music festival last month. 

Europe has seen a series of anti-terrorist dawn raids since 11 September, but this must be the strangest. 

Security threat 

Pierre Boulez was sleeping in his five star Swiss hotel when police dragged him from bed and informed him he was on their national list of terrorist suspects. 

Organisers have demanded an apology from the authorities for Mr Boulez's detention
 
The 75-year-old, who once conducted the BBC symphony orchestra, had his passport confiscated for three hours before he was free to go. 

Strangely, it was not a case of mistaken identity. 

In the revolutionary 1960s, it seems that Boulez said that opera houses should be blown up, comments which the Swiss felt made him a potential security threat. 

The embarrassed organisers of the music festival where he had been conducting have now demanded an apology from the authorities. 

[And if you don't have this sort of background, better watch out if you ever said something 'inflammatory' even in the context of a work of art. After all the evidence against you doesn't have to made public, but you understand I didn't say that]

08 May 01 | Music
Boulez crowned conductor of the year <http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/entertainment/music/newsid_1319000/1319360.stm>

Royal Philharmonic Society recognises Pierre Boulez

French avant garde veteran Pierre Boulez was named conductor of the year at the Royal Philharmonic Society awards. 

He received the prize for his concerts with the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) and work with young conductors and musicians. 

A series of individuals and ensembles in contemporary classical music were rewarded for innovation and excellence at the annual awards, which took place at the Dorchester Hotel. 

Sir Peter Hall gave the keynote speech at the event, at which Dame Janet Baker gave away the awards.

Willard Uncapher, Ph.D. / Network Emergence / 2369 Rodin Place, Davis, CA 95616

mailto:willard@well.com / http://www.well.com/user/willard