The Russian conductor Valery Gergiev loses his position as chief conductor of the Munich Philharmonic due to a lack of distance from Putin. Gergiev’s performances in the Elbphilharmonie were also canceled.
Valery Gergiev is currently heavily criticized for his repeatedly expressed support for Vladimir Putin and his policies. So far, he has not responded to the request to clearly distance himself from the Russian invasion of Ukraine. That’s why he’s losing more and more support in the concert business.
Munich’s Mayor Reiter dismisses Gergiev
Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD) fired Gergiev on Tuesday with immediate effect. There will therefore be no further concerts by the Munich Philharmonic under his direction, said Reiter. Gergiev did not comment on the call to “clearly and unequivocally distance oneself from the brutal war of aggression that Putin is waging against Ukraine and now especially against our twin city of Kyiv,” explained Reiter. “In the current situation, however, a clear signal for the orchestra, its audience, the public and city politics would have been essential in order to be able to continue working together,” said Reiter. On Friday, the mayor had called for distancing until Monday. Otherwise, Gergiev could no longer remain head of the Philharmonic.
Munich agency Felsner Artists announces Gergiev
His Munich agency Felsner Artist had already separated from Gergiev – a sensitive blow for the normally busy conductor. The agency informed him on Sunday that he was no longer one of their clients. Agency boss Marcus Felsner expressly values Gergiev as “one of the greatest conductors of our time” and as a visionary artist “whom many of us love and admire”. But given the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, it is impossible to continue to defend Gergiev’s interests.”
Agency boss does not expect distancing
In an interview with NDR Kultur, agency boss Marcus Felsner also expressed skepticism about the expectations that Gergiev would have to position himself against Putin and the attack on Ukraine. “Personally, I don’t think that it will be possible for Mr. Gergiev to condemn this criminal war of aggression with the necessary clarity and to formally distance himself from the Russian leadership,” said Felsner. This would jeopardize his position at the state Mariinsky Theater. Marcus Felsner’s assessment has so far proved to be true – and led to the termination of the contract with the Munich Philharmonic.
Elbphilharmonie cancels Gergiev concerts
Concerts with Gergiev and his orchestra were planned for Easter week in the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg – and the responsible artistic director Christoph Lieben-Seutter initially hoped that the conductor would distance himself from the acts of war. All concerts with the Russian conductor in the Elphi were finally canceled on Tuesday morning. “As a result of Valery Gergiev’s continued silence on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the two concerts planned for Easter with him and the orchestra of the Mariinsky Theater in the Elbphilharmonie have now been cancelled,” says a statement from the Hamburg-based company.
Cancellations and discharges in New York and Rotterdam
The first cancellation came from New York last week. On Thursday, after the start of the Russian attack on Ukraine, Carnegie Hall and the Vienna Philharmonic announced a change in line-up. Instead of Valery Gergiev, Yannick Nézét-Seguin will conduct the planned concerts with the orchestra.
The prelude to a whole series of cut engagements, probably some kind of chain reaction. On Friday, the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra announced that it would cancel the agreed concerts with Gergiev. In addition, the Gergiev Festival in Rotterdam in September was cancelled. With that, the orchestra turns its back on him, with whom he has had the longest relationship in Western Europe. And the Verbier Festival in Switzerland announced late in the afternoon that Valery Gergiev has been dismissed as artistic director.
Lucerne, Riga and Milan are following suit
But other previous partners of Gergiev are also pulling the ripcord. On Monday morning the Lucerne Festival uninvited Gergiev and the Mariinsky Orchestra for August. The Riga Jurmala Festival in Latvia, where Gergiev and his orchestra should have played a leading role in the summer, is canceled altogether.
The Milan Scala had also requested a statement and now wants to draw consequences. “Gergiev didn’t answer us, so we can rule out that he will be at the podium on Saturday,” said Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala. The Paris Philharmonic followed on Tuesday with a cancellation of the Gergiev concerts, the were planned in April.
