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Italy’s Royal Palace of Caserta announced on Monday the cancellation of a concert by Russian maestro Valery Gergiev, a known supporter of President Vladimir Putin.
The decision to call off the Sunday concert at the 18th-century palace near Naples followed a significant uproar from politicians and Kremlin critics.
Backlash and Cancellation
The scheduled performance sparked a heated debate in Italy, drew strong condemnation from Ukraine, and led to calls for protests from Russia’s exiled opposition.
Gergiev has notably not condemned Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, a stance that resulted in his dismissal from the Munich Philharmonic in March 2022 and has led to him being largely shunned by Western venues.
After days of uncertainty, the Royal Palace of Caserta abruptly announced the cancellation, stating, “The directorate of the Royal Palace of Caserta has ordered the cancellation of the symphony concert conducted by Valery Gergiev, scheduled as part of the Un’Estate da Re festival for July 27.” No official reason was provided for the decision.
Reactions from Critics and Moscow
Yulia Navalnaya, widow of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, praised the cancellation as “good news.” She asserted on X, “No artist who supports the current dictatorship in Russia should be welcomed in Europe,” adding, “And if Gergiev loves the dictator and murderer so much, let him conduct personally for him.”
Navalnaya’s team had actively campaigned against the concert, arguing that “Putin’s pals should not be touring Europe like nothing happened.”
Conversely, Russia’s state TASS news agency reported that Gergiev, 72, claimed he was not informed of the decision.
Russia’s ambassador to Italy, Paramonov, called the cancellation a “scandalous situation” and part of Western politicians’ “policy of ‘cancelling’ Russian culture,” expressing sadness that Italy was “subordinating its cultural policy to the demands of Ukrainians and other immigrants.”
Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli, who had previously warned that the concert risked becoming a propaganda event, described the cancellation as “common sense” and aimed at “protecting the values of the free world.”
Ukraine had specifically urged organisers to drop the performance, labelling Gergiev “Putin’s mouthpiece,” who should not be welcomed as long as Russian forces continue to commit atrocities in the country.
Gergiev’s History and Current Status
Recognised globally as a leading orchestra conductor, Gergiev is known for his interpretations of Russian classical music, including Piotr Tchaikovsky.
For decades, he has been a prominent supporter of Putin’s rule, notably conducting a concert in the ruins of Syria’s Palmyra in 2016 after its capture by Russian-backed forces and another in Georgia’s Tskhinvali region following the 2008 Russian invasion.
Since the 2022 Ukraine invasion, Gergiev has maintained silence on the conflict and largely stayed out of the public eye in the West, though he has performed in Asia.
Russia’s cultural figures remain divided on the Ukraine invasion, with some supporting the Kremlin and others denouncing the military offensive from exile.
