The BBC has been forced to apologize after opting to use a blatantly anti-Semitic image to publicize one of its most high-profile yearly events.
The image (seen above) is a grotesque caricature of Jewish Hungarian violinist Leopold Auer, whose music is to feature during the BBC Proms, during a performance by Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto. Astonishingly, it was published in the concert's official program.
Horrified readers contacted the BBC to complain, forcing the corporation to apologize.
In a statement, a BBC spokesperson said: “We use a range of caricatures and illustrations in our concert programmes and wanted one of Leopold Auer.
“We're sorry to anyone who was offended by the image choice - this was never our intention.”
It is unclear however why such a blatantly anti-Semitic image was used in the first place.
Auer - a violinist, composer and music teacher - was one of the most noted musicians of his time in Europe, with Tchaikovsky dedicating his Violin Concerto to him.