At a performance of the SWR Rundfunkorchester at the Donaueschingen Festival in Germany, the composer Johannes Kreidler destroyed a cello and a violin in protest against the proposed merger of two SWR (the radio station Sudwestrundfunk) orchestras.

First Kreidler snatches the instruments from players in the orchestra. Then, by removing the strings of the cello, he ties the violin to the cello. Raising the two instruments in the air he speaks over the venue’s PA about damage caused by cuts to music — citing the fact that leading figures from the SWR were in the audience. ‘You have composed this requiem yourself,’ he says, before smashing the two instruments on the ground while flyers were dropped from the balcony of the venue.

swr.de