The more I think about this the more unhappy I become.
Reading Andrew Gant’s own description of his symphony in the programme, it sounds something I would like to have heard. I really cannot imagine how it could be so awful that a last minute cancellation could even be considered.
I believe that the outcome for the BHPS will be very sad. It condemns us to a future of “safe” works. After all, no composer will trust us with a premiere of his work again!
This is a great shame after the obvious work Ivan has put into securing this premiere for us. This should have been a coup for the society, and a high point of the season, instead it has turned into a farce that will inevitably damage the BHPS.
Mr Wordsworth’s cry of artistic integrity doesn't run true when you consider that in his role as conductor of the BBC Concert Orchestra he must have been asked to conduct many uninspiring works, but then the BBC probably wouldn’t tolerate him throwing his toys out of the pram.

BHPS Friend, Brighton, UK

Contrary to most opinions expressed here, Barry Wordsworth is a very fine conductor, who has often given premieres of new works, and I'm sure the decision was not taken lightly. What is damaging for all concerned is that the decision was not taken much earlier on in the process. The piece must have been available for at least a few weeks prior to the event. Having said that, any piece of music, commisionned by a businessman in 2007 which calls itself "A British Symphony" makes me for one feel slightly ill - even having never heard a note of the piece itself. It might have been fun in 1900 but do any serious composers still write pieces like that?

JW, London,

Barry Wordsworth is like the politicians who only surface to resign. Nobody knew who he was until March 10th. He'll enjoy brief celebrity and then sink back into the anonymity of the Brighton Phil - an orchestra unknown outside of Brighton and largely unknown in it. Here today - gone tomorrow. And to replace anything with Mendelssohn,that most uninspired and banal of composers, sums up the conductors qulaities as well as anything.

eric, Harrogate, uk

Barry Wordsworth talks about his 'artistic integrity'. This is really too precious. It is possible that a work called a 'British Symphony' might be jingoistic but I feel that, having promised to perform it, Wordsworth should have swallowed his artistic integrity for half an hour or so and just got on with it. Writing a symphony is no joke and normally takes 1-2 years, so this would have meant a lot to Gant. Wordsworth may have his artistic integrity intact but he has proved himself to be unprofessional and has treated a fellow musician with nothing less than cruelty.

As for the audience, most of them deserve a good kicking for their support of the bad manners of the conductor.

I heard Mr Rockey speak on Front Row (Radio 4) and his attitude to Mr Gant was one of cold indifference. I could hardly believe my ears.

Gavin Bullock, Winchester, UK

As a conductor and music director I would never reneg on a promise to perform a new work especially on the day of a performance. A committment was made and the work programmed. The audience had paid their money. Even when conducting a work that one may not completely believe in, a conductor still has the obligation to give it his/her best effort. What the conductor may not believe in may turn out to be something that the audience does believe in.

Constantine Kitsopoulos, Chatham, NJ

What is hypocrisy? A third-rate conductor and fourth-rate orchestra refusing to perform second-rate music.

T. Beecham, St Helens,

If I had been in the audience and had gone to the concert specifically to hear the premiere, I'd be considering suing Mr Wordsworth for three hours of my life back.

dw, California,

A disgraceful performance or non-performance. The work was programmed and Wordsworth was programmed to conduct it. His reason for not performing makes no sense. What would have happened when conducting for the Royal ballet if he had decided, for example, that Minkus lacked inspiration and he did not believe in ihis work? Apart from the lack of professionalism and the unkindness to composer, it gives the impression that any safe classic is to be preferred to a new work. It was on the programme until the last moment; let the audience decide. They may well have applauded.

Alexander Bruce, Brighton, East Sussex