The Vienna Philharmonic has decided to do without the famous conductor Valery Gergiev, personal friend and supporter of the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, for the three concerts offered this weekend in New York, in a reaction to Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
“It is, of course, a reaction to world events”indicated the Philharmonic to questions from Eph on whether the change of plans has to do with the Russian teacher’s support for Putin and with the attack launched yesterday by the Russian president against Ukraine.
The Orchestra’s press office indicated that the decision has been made jointly with Carnegie Hall, the New York theater where the Viennese Philharmonics perform today, tomorrow and Sunday.
Gergiev has been replaced by Canadian Yannick Nézet-Séguinand it has also fallen off the poster Russian pianist Denis Matsuev.
That a well-known Putin supporter was performing with the Viennese Philharmonics just as Russia is attacking Ukraine began to draw criticism in the local media yesterday.
The Philharmonic initially reacted with a statement asking not to turn culture into “toy of political disputes”.
“Therefore, we will not comment on political issues in relation to our directors or soloists. For us, music always has something that unites and nothing that divides”said the president of the Orchestra, Daniel Froschauer, in a statement in which he condemned any type of violence and the war.
The Vienna Philharmonic is not the only cultural institution that has raised its relationship with Gergiev.
The La Scala opera house in Milan and the mayor of that Italian city have communicated by letter to Gergiev that it must express a position in favor of a peaceful solution to the attack on Ukraine if it wants to continue with the theater.
The municipal authorities of the German city of Munich and its philharmonic orchestra, of which Gergiev is principal conductor, They have given him until next Monday to show his “clear sign of disassociation” from the attacks on Ukraine.
“Otherwise, we will have to terminate his contract as lead director,” You have been warned in a letter. (I)
Source: Eluniverso
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