{"id":74252,"date":"2022-03-01T10:27:33","date_gmt":"2022-03-01T15:27:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=74252"},"modified":"2022-03-02T07:42:49","modified_gmt":"2022-03-02T12:42:49","slug":"scoop-classical-music-world-responds-invasion-ukraine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2022\/03\/01\/scoop-classical-music-world-responds-invasion-ukraine\/","title":{"rendered":"THE SCOOP | The Classical Music World Responds To The Invasion Of Ukraine"},"content":{"rendered":"
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(L-R) Rally in support of Ukraine in Times Square following the Russian invasion of Ukraine (via Rhododendrites); Pro-Putin conductor Valery Gergiev<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As war rages in Ukraine, it\u2019s impossible for the classical music world not to respond. Both Russia and Ukraine have had an enormous presence throughout the history of European music, and the reaction from that part of the industry has been swift.<\/p>\n

The case of Valery Gergiev<\/strong><\/h3>\n

As of this morning, March 1, 2022, Valery Gergiev is out of a job. The public announcement came from Dieter Reiter<\/strong>, mayor of Munich.<\/p>\n

Conductor Valery Gergiev is a star of the classical music world. He\u2019s Russian, but above that circumstance of nationality, he\u2019s a longstanding friend and supporter of Vladimir Putin, the architect of the current conflict in the Ukraine. He\u2019s appeared in campaign ads for Putin, and publicly supported the 2014 annexation of Crimea, among other things.<\/p>\n

The 68-year-old maestro has come under pressure from many stakeholders to speak out against the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The fallout from his refusal to do so has been sweeping.<\/p>\n

His manager, Marcus Felsner<\/strong>, announced that he would be dropping his high profile client, who he nonetheless called \u201cthe greatest conductor alive and an extraordinary human being with a profound sense of decency\u201d. He cited Gergiev\u2019s continued refusal to denounce the invasion as the reason. He’s quoted by The Guardian<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the light of the criminal war waged by the Russian regime against the democratic and independent nation of Ukraine, and against the European open society as a whole, it has become impossible for us, and clearly unwelcome, to defend the interests of Maestro Gergiev,\u201d he explained. Felsner called it, \u201cthe saddest day of my professional life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mayor of Munich Dieter Reiter<\/strong> had given Gergiev a deadline of Monday, February 28 to make a public statement denouncing the Ukrainian invasion.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have made my position clear to Gergiev and also called on him to clearly and unequivocally distance himself from the brutal war of aggression that Putin is waging against Ukraine,\u201d Reiter said in a statement.<\/p>\n

\u201cShould Gergiev not have clearly taken a stance by Monday, he can no longer remain chief conductor of our Philharmonic Orchestra,\u201d Reiter commented to the German press<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Gergiev had been principal conductor of the Munich Phil since 2015. He currently serves as chief of the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s not all.<\/p>\n