The BBC announced it would scrap the words from Rule, Britannia! and Land of Hope and Glory at this year’s Last Night of the Proms amid a row over controversial lyrics The BBC’s decision sparked a furious backlash on social media with the conductor being blamed in part for the furore.
Dalia Stasevskam, who is from Finland, is “heartbroken” by personal attacks on her, sources close to her have claimed.
Friends insisted she did not demand Rule, Britannia! and Land Of Hope And Glory were pulled from the Last Night of the Proms.
Instead, they argued the decision was down to BBC bosses, the Telegraph has reported.
A source said Ms Stasevska would never have the “arrogance” to demand a change to the patriotic music.
The conductor was attacked online after the row erupted over the weekend.
As a result of the personal attacks, Ms Stasevska has made her social media profiles private.
A source close to her said: “From Dalia’s point of view there has been a lot of unpleasantness and some of the stuff that has been written is heartbreaking.
“It is frightening, unpleasant, scary stuff and she can’t say anything as she can’t be a part of any of that.”
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A spokesman for the Proms described the attacks on the conductor as “unjustified and misguided”.
They said: “The programme of Last Night of the Proms was the BBC’s decision.
“As such Dalia Stasevska should not be held responsible.”
Fellow musicians from around the world have rushed to her defence.
Joshua Weilerstein, the Artistic Director of the Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne condemned the attacks.
Mr Weilerstein, who is organising an open letter from musicians and managers all over the world, said that attacks on his peer had been “unbelievably abusive, bullying, and patently xenophobic”.
“Regardless of views on the issue of programming certain traditional works, which are of course subject of vigorous and necessary debate, the treatment that Dalia is getting is abhorrent and needs to be addressed,” he wrote.
The outgoing director-general of the BBC, Lord Tony Hall, has since described it as a “creative and artistic” decision.
