Music Festival Cancels Russian Conductor’s Concert
The organizers of a music festival in Italy have canceled a concert with the Russian conductor Valery Gergiev after criticism from Kremlin critics and human rights campaigns. Gergiev, an ally of President Putin, was to lead an Italian orchestra and soloist of the Mariinsky Theater of St. Petersburg in a former Royal Palace near Naples this month.
Background on Gergiev
The 72-year-old has been excluded from western stadiums since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which he refused to condemn. This has led to widespread criticism and calls for him to be banned from performing in Western countries.
Reaction to the Cancellation
The Italian Minister of Culture, Alessandro Giuli, said that the cancellation of the organizers of the UN’Tote Da Re Festival was "common sense" and protected the "values of the free world". The royal palace of Caserta gave no official reason for the cancellation of the concert on July 27, which was staged as part of the broader music program.
International Pressure
Ukraine had asked the organizers to drop Gergiev’s appearance on Sunday and described him as "Putin’s mouthpiece", which should not be welcomed anywhere "as long as the Russian armed forces continue to commit atrocities". Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of the late Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, welcomed the cancellation and described it as "good news" in a post.
Opposition to the Cancellation
However, the Moscow Ambassador in Italy said the decision was a "scandalous situation" and part of a "policy of boycotting Russian culture". Gergiev, the director of the Bolshoi Theater and Mariinsky Russian State, regularly played in leading western places before the invasion of Ukraine. Institutions, including Milan’s La Scala, the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, and the New York Carnegie Hall, later severed relationships with him.
Broader Context
The controversy around Gergiev’s appearance came about last week when Italy hosted heads of state from all over Europe to confirm their support for Ukraine and to discuss how the country can be rebuilt after the war. The Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, has been a strong and constant critic of Vladimir Putin from the start. However, her Ministry of Culture was one of the supporters of the UN’Tote Da Re Festival, highlighting the complexities of the issue.
