As reported by Pizzicato , the National Olympic Committee for French Sport (CNOSF) has ordered the violinist and conductor Julien Chauvin to give up the name of his orchestra Le Concert de la Loge Olympique, threatening to take him to court if he refuses.
Julien Chauvin has resurrected the Concert de la Loge Olympique, created by the Chevalier de Saint-George in 1783, with the aim of reviving the artistic spirit and rich creativity of the Age of Revolution.
Just when the ensemble has started to have success under this name, it is to be forced to abandon its musical identity by the CNOSF, which was created only in 1894, and stupidly claims to have rights to the term ‘olympic’, despite the fact the word is already used by 1,694 businesses and 136 brands in France.
It is hard to see how an orchestra performing classical music could take profit from the fame of the Olympic Games by appearing in concert halls and music festivals.
Now, the orchestra requests from the CNOSF a spirit consistent with the Olympic Charter, which promotes the founding principles of the Olympic Movement – mutual understanding with the spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play – simply to allow the Concert de la loge Olympique to keep its historic name which is bound up with its artistic identity.
Sign this petition here.
