Pianist Jayson Gillham has launched legal action in the Federal Court against the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra after it cancelled one of his performances over comments he made on stage about the war in Gaza.

The MSO cancelled a scheduled performance by Mr Gillham in August after he dedicated a piece of new music to journalists killed during the war.

Speaking on social media, Mr Gillham said he was "left with no other option but to pursue legal action" after receiving what he described as a "hostile" letter from the MSO's lawyers.

That letter, Mr Gillham said, rejected "reasonable requests to remedy the situation".

"This battle in the federal court is about defending everyone's right to freedom of speech. It's about ensuring artists can perform with integrity and without fear of censorship," he said.

Mr Gillham said he had been "silenced for speaking the truth" about journalists being targeted and killed during the war.

The Committee to Protect Journalists, an independent organisation that promotes press freedom, reports that 116 journalists have been killed since the war in Gaza began.

The Israel Defense Forces has told media outlets the army does not deliberately target journalists but cannot guarantee the safety of journalists in Gaza.

The MSO confirmed it had been served with a statement of claim by Mr Gillham commencing proceedings in the Federal Court.

"The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is reviewing the court documents and will respond at the appropriate time," an MSO spokesperson said.

Days after the controversy began, the MSO said it had made a mistake by pulling Mr Gillham from an orchestra concert at the Melbourne Town Hall.

"We have been engaging constructively with Jayson and his management and are seeking to reschedule the concert," the MSO said at the time.

"While the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra maintains that a concert platform is not an appropriate stage for political comment, we acknowledge Jayson's concerns for those in the Middle East and elsewhere."

The former head of the MSO, Sophie Galaise, left the organisation over the handling of Mr Gillham's comments after a vote of no confidence from the orchestra's musicians.

The MSO has also committed to an independent review into its decision to cancel Mr Gillham's concert.