The pianist whose performance was cancelled by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra after he made comments during a concert about journalists killed in Palestine has filed legal action in the Federal Court.

British-Australian musician Jayson Gillham has been at the centre of the MSO censorship row since August, when he introduced a piece of new music by Connor D’Netto called Witness at an MSO recital.

The MSO intially apologised for removing Gillham from their line-up at a planned show the following week, then retracted that and sent a strongly worded rebuke of the pianist via their lawyers, Arnold Bloch Liebler.

In a statement released on Thursday afternoon, Gillham said: “I was silenced for speaking the truth – that Israel targets journalists.”

Israel rejects the allegation it has targeted journalists.

“This situation goes beyond just artistic freedom,” Gillham’s statement said. “It strikes at the heart of our right to free speech and the role of art in addressing important social issues. The MSO’s extreme reaction to factual statements highlights a disturbing trend of silencing voices that speak to uncomfortable truths.

“This battle is about ensuring that artists can perform with integrity and without fear of censorship or reprisal,” Gillham said. “More broadly, it’s about defending everyone’s right to express opinions on important issues without being silenced.”

More to come.