In a significant move, the organizers of the Un'Estate da RE music festival in Italy have cancelled a concert featuring renowned Russian conductor Valery Gergiev. This decision follows intense criticism from Kremlin opponents and human rights advocates who have denounced Gergiev's affiliations with President Vladimir Putin. Scheduled for later this month, the concert was set to showcase an Italian orchestra along with soloists from St Petersburg's esteemed Mariinsky Theatre at a historic venue near Naples.
The 72-year-old conductor has faced substantial criticism since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, a military action he has notably refrained from condemning. Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli, in response to the cancellation, remarked that it represented "common sense" and underscored the commitment to "the values of the free world."
While the Royal Palace of Caserta, the concert's venue, did not specify reasons for the cancellation, Ukraine officials had previously urged festival organizers to reconsider Gergiev's participation, labeling him as "Putin's mouthpiece" unfit for welcome in Europe while atrocities in Ukraine persist. The widow of established Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, Yulia Navalnaya, expressed support for the decision, stating that no artist supportive of the current Russian regime should find acceptance in Europe.
Conversely, Moscow’s ambassador to Italy criticized the cancellation as a "scandalous situation," asserting that it represented a broader trend of "cancelling" Russian culture. Gergiev, well-known as the director for both the Bolshoi and Mariinsky theatres, previously enjoyed performances at some of the world’s leading concert halls, including Milan’s La Scala and Carnegie Hall in New York. However, following the war, these institutions have severed ties with the conductor amidst growing international condemnation.
The recent controversy surrounding Gergiev surfaces amid a backdrop of Italy hosting European leaders to strengthen solidarity with Ukraine and address long-term reconstruction efforts post-conflict. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been a vocal critic of Putin since the onset of the war, although her culture ministry was among those supporting the Un'Estate da RE festival. The clash between cultural activities and political speeches reignites discussions about the role of art in the contemporary geopolitical climate.
The 72-year-old conductor has faced substantial criticism since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, a military action he has notably refrained from condemning. Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli, in response to the cancellation, remarked that it represented "common sense" and underscored the commitment to "the values of the free world."
While the Royal Palace of Caserta, the concert's venue, did not specify reasons for the cancellation, Ukraine officials had previously urged festival organizers to reconsider Gergiev's participation, labeling him as "Putin's mouthpiece" unfit for welcome in Europe while atrocities in Ukraine persist. The widow of established Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, Yulia Navalnaya, expressed support for the decision, stating that no artist supportive of the current Russian regime should find acceptance in Europe.
Conversely, Moscow’s ambassador to Italy criticized the cancellation as a "scandalous situation," asserting that it represented a broader trend of "cancelling" Russian culture. Gergiev, well-known as the director for both the Bolshoi and Mariinsky theatres, previously enjoyed performances at some of the world’s leading concert halls, including Milan’s La Scala and Carnegie Hall in New York. However, following the war, these institutions have severed ties with the conductor amidst growing international condemnation.
The recent controversy surrounding Gergiev surfaces amid a backdrop of Italy hosting European leaders to strengthen solidarity with Ukraine and address long-term reconstruction efforts post-conflict. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been a vocal critic of Putin since the onset of the war, although her culture ministry was among those supporting the Un'Estate da RE festival. The clash between cultural activities and political speeches reignites discussions about the role of art in the contemporary geopolitical climate.
