The confrontation between Russia and the main European countries around the conflict in Ukraine is also played out in the cultural field. And the sanctions against Vladimir Putin’s regime also affect Russian artists who are used to performing in Europe and thus find themselves banned from the main Western stages.
This is particularly the case of the famous conductor Valery Guergiev. Replaced this weekend at short notice during a series of concerts at Carnegie Hall in New York because, the famous director of the Mariinsky theater in Saint Petersburg was summoned by the mayor of Munich, where he has directed the philharmonic orchestra since 2015 from “clearly and categorically distance oneself from Putin’s brutal war on Ukraine”, if he wants to keep his job.
→ REPORT. Eat, protect yourself, or flee… Kiev at the time of war
Thursday, February 24, the director of the Milanese Scala, Dominique Meyer and the mayor of Milan, Giuseppe Sala, had already asked the Russian maestro to make a statement pleading for a “peaceful solution” of the conflict under pain of seeing his performances of the opera, The queen of spadesscheduled between March 5 and 13, compromised.
A conductor criticized
The 68-year-old conductor, reputedly close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, had previously faced widespread criticism for endorsing Russia’s annexation of Crimea, and participating in concerts in bombed-out South Ossetia and in Palmyra alongside the Syrian army. “Valery Guergiev has long supported Russia’s aggressive foreign policy and President Putin”regretted the director of the Czech Academy of Classical Music, Robert Kolar, who announced his deprogramming of the Prague Dvorak festival, scheduled for September.
Performances of the Bolshoi Ballet scheduled for this summer at the Royal Opera House in London have also been canceled due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “A summer season of the Bolshoi Ballet at the Royal Opera House was in the final planning stages. Unfortunately, given the current situation, the season cannot take place.”the Covent Garden Opera House said in a statement.
Russia has also been banned from participating in the Eurovision Song Contest whose 66th edition final is due to take place on May 14 in Italy, its organizer fearing for the reputation of one of the most popular cultural events in the world. ‘Europe. “We remain committed to protecting the values of a cultural competition that promotes international exchange and mutual understanding, brings audiences together, celebrates diversity through music and unites all of Europe on one stage of performance”underlines the spokesperson for the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
Questions around the Morozov collection
Finally, questions arise about the future of the famous Morozov collection currently on display at the Vuitton Foundation. About 200 works by Van Gogh, Gauguin, Renoir, Cézanne, Matisse, Bonnard, Monet or Manet have been exhibited since September 22 alongside Russian painters. Asked about the possible seizure of its masterpieces under Western sanctions, the Foundation, which declared itself ” worry “ in the face of events affirmed that she would respond “to the requirements of the situation”but argued that, “As with any major loan of works of art, the collection is protected by an exemption from seizure”. The collection is due to return to Russia on April 3. “We have not received any calls from our Russian partners, nor from the embassy (of Russia in France)”said the foundation.
→ ANALYSIS. Behind the Morozov exhibition
Another consequence of the conflict, the Frenchman Laurent Hilaire, former star dancer of the Paris Opera resigned on Sunday February 27 from his post as director of the ballet troupe at the Stanislavski Theater in Moscow and is preparing to leave Moscow. “I regret this decision, I worked in harmony (with the theater teams), I leave with sadness but the context no longer allows me to work peacefully”he explained.