Italy Cancels Gergiev Concert Amid Ukraine War Criticism
Respected conductor dropped from festival following outcry from Kremlin critics
Italian festival organizers have withdrawn Russian conductor Valery Gergiev from an upcoming concert, citing pressure from critics of the Kremlin and human rights advocates. The event was scheduled to take place later this month at a historic palace near Naples.
Cultural Clash Over Gergiev’s Putin Ties
The 72-year-old **Gergiev**, a known ally of President **Vladimir Putin**, was slated to lead an Italian orchestra with soloists from St. Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theatre. He has faced widespread bans from Western stages since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, a conflict he has not condemned.
Italian Culture Minister **Alessandro Giuli** lauded the cancellation by the Un’Estate da RE festival organizers as “common sense,” asserting it upholds “the values of the free world.”
“Putin’s Mouthpiece” Echoes Worldwide
Ukraine had previously called on organizers to disinvite **Gergiev**, labeling him “Putin’s mouthpiece” and stating he should not be welcomed “as long as Russian forces continue to commit atrocities.”
The widow of the late Russian opposition leader **Alexei Navalny**, **Yulia Navalnaya**, expressed her approval of the decision. Posting on X (formerly Twitter), she called it “good news” and declared, “No artist who supports the current dictatorship in Russia should be welcomed in Europe.”
Yulia Navalnaya, widow of Alexei Navalny, welcomes the cancellation of Valery Gergiev’s concert in Italy. https://t.co/fM6tN60a9l
— The Moscow Times (@TheMoscowTimes) June 30, 2024
However, Moscow’s ambassador to Italy condemned the move as a “scandalous situation” and part of a “policy of ‘cancelling’ Russian culture.”
Gergiev’s International Standing Diminished
Prior to the Ukraine invasion, **Gergiev**, who also directs Russia’s Bolshoi and Mariinsky state theatres, frequently performed in major international venues. Numerous prestigious institutions, including Milan’s La Scala, the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, and New York’s Carnegie Hall, have since ended their professional relationships with him.
The controversy surfaced as Italy hosted European leaders to reaffirm solidarity with Ukraine and discuss post-war reconstruction efforts. Despite Italian Prime Minister **Giorgia Meloni**’s consistent criticism of President **Putin**, her culture ministry had supported the festival.
The Royal Palace of Caserta, the venue for the now-canceled July 27 performance, did not officially state the reason for its decision. This incident echoes similar cancellations faced by Russian artists and cultural figures in the West. For instance, in March 2022, the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra canceled a concert by **Gergiev** and Russian soprano **Anna Netrebko** due to their perceived ties to the Kremlin, highlighting the ongoing cultural sanctions against Russia.
