Cancellation follows condemnation from human rights advocates and public figures regarding Gergiev's ties to Putin.
**Valery Gergiev's Concert Canceled Amid Ukraine Tensions**
**Valery Gergiev's Concert Canceled Amid Ukraine Tensions**
The Italian music festival cancels a concert by the controversial conductor, citing political pressures.
The organizers of an Italian music festival have made the decision to cancel a concert featuring renowned Russian conductor Valery Gergiev, facing mounting criticism from Kremlin opponents and human rights activists. Gergiev, a well-known ally of President Vladimir Putin, was scheduled to perform with an orchestra and soloists from St Petersburg's Mariinsky Theatre at the Royal Palace of Caserta near Naples later this month. The 72-year-old musician has not performed in the West since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February 2022, a situation he has notably failed to publicly condemn.
Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli voiced support for the cancellation, calling it a matter of "common sense" and underscoring the importance of respecting the "values of the free world." The Royal Palace of Caserta did not specify the reasons for the cancellation of the concert on July 27, which was part of a broader music festival lineup.
In a statement, Ukrainian representatives urged festival organizers to reconsider Gergiev's involvement, labeling him as "Putin's mouthpiece" and asserting that he should not perform while Russian troops are committing various offenses. Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, celebrated the cancellation as a positive development. Her post on social media emphasized that European venues should not host artists supporting the Russian regime.
The Russian ambassador to Italy responded to the cancellation by condemning it as a "scandalous situation" and part of a widespread attempt to "cancel" Russian culture. Gergiev, who has directed major Russian cultural institutions such as the Bolshoi and Mariinsky Theatres, has seen various prominent Western venues, including Milan's La Scala and New York's Carnegie Hall, terminate their associations with him due to his political affiliations.
The controversy surrounding Gergiev’s planned concert intensified over the past week, coinciding with Italy's hosting of European heads of state aimed at expressing solidarity with Ukraine and deliberating on post-war reconstruction efforts. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been a vocal critic of Putin since the invasion began, although her culture ministry has supported the music festival that aimed to feature Gergiev.
Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli voiced support for the cancellation, calling it a matter of "common sense" and underscoring the importance of respecting the "values of the free world." The Royal Palace of Caserta did not specify the reasons for the cancellation of the concert on July 27, which was part of a broader music festival lineup.
In a statement, Ukrainian representatives urged festival organizers to reconsider Gergiev's involvement, labeling him as "Putin's mouthpiece" and asserting that he should not perform while Russian troops are committing various offenses. Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, celebrated the cancellation as a positive development. Her post on social media emphasized that European venues should not host artists supporting the Russian regime.
The Russian ambassador to Italy responded to the cancellation by condemning it as a "scandalous situation" and part of a widespread attempt to "cancel" Russian culture. Gergiev, who has directed major Russian cultural institutions such as the Bolshoi and Mariinsky Theatres, has seen various prominent Western venues, including Milan's La Scala and New York's Carnegie Hall, terminate their associations with him due to his political affiliations.
The controversy surrounding Gergiev’s planned concert intensified over the past week, coinciding with Italy's hosting of European heads of state aimed at expressing solidarity with Ukraine and deliberating on post-war reconstruction efforts. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been a vocal critic of Putin since the invasion began, although her culture ministry has supported the music festival that aimed to feature Gergiev.
