Navalny's wife calls for the cancellation of a concert by a friend of Putin, scheduled to take place in Italy. - Putin's confidant's Italy concert faces demands for cancellation, instigated by Navalny's spouse
Valery Gergiev, the Russian conductor known for his close ties to President Vladimir Putin, is set to perform at the Caserta Palace near Naples, Italy, on July 27, sparking a heated debate in the country. The concert, part of the summer series, has been met with opposition and calls for cancellation from various political figures and organisations due to Gergiev's lack of distance from Russian President Putin and his refusal to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The controversy surrounding Gergiev's performance has ignited a political row between advocates for cultural dialogue and critics who see it as tacit support for an aggressor regime. This debate reflects broader tensions between cultural engagement and political accountability amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Activists and politicians, such as Pina Picierno, vice president of the European Parliament, have protested Gergiev's invitation to perform in Italy, particularly criticising the use of European taxpayer money to fund a concert by a Kremlin supporter. Picierno described Gergiev as a "personal ambassador for Putin" who has never distanced himself from Russia's war crimes and has, on occasions, celebrated them through his concerts.
Alexei Navalny, a sharp critic of Putin, passed away under unclear circumstances in a Russian labor camp in February 2024 at the age of 47. His widow, Yulia Navalnaya, publicly condemned the invitation to Gergiev's concert near Naples, arguing that presenting it as merely a cultural event is "pure hypocrisy" given Gergiev's political stance and actions. Navalny himself had criticised the concert, stating that if the Kremlin is satisfied with Gergiev in 2025, then he is doing something wrong.
Italy's culture minister echoed concerns that the concert risks becoming pro-Russian propaganda, warning that what might be intended as a high-level musical event could instead serve as a platform for political messaging favouring Moscow. Despite the opposition, some Italian politicians, even within the centre-left Democratic Party (same party as Picierno), defended allowing Gergiev to perform. Campania governor Vincenzo De Luca said the concert could promote "dialogue between people" and support "human solidarity," emphasising cultural exchange over political considerations.
Valery Gergiev is no longer associated with the Munich Philharmonic, having been dismissed shortly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 due to his lack of distance from Putin and the Russian war against Ukraine. Besides his support for Putin, Gergiev has a controversial record, including a triumphant concert in Georgia's Tskhinvali region shortly after the 2008 Russian invasion, near a detention center for civilians, suggesting his support stretches beyond the Ukraine conflict.
Peter Gelb, director of the Metropolitan Opera in New York, has called for the cancellation of Gergiev's concert, describing him as "an artistic surrogate for Putin." Gelb stated that there can be no "cultural exchange" with individuals associated with mass murderers and child abductors. The representative of the Caserta Palace noted that an Israeli conductor would also perform in the summer at the same location.
References: [1] The Guardian, "Valery Gergiev's Italy concert faces calls for cancellation over Putin links," 2023. [2] The Washington Post, "Valery Gergiev's upcoming concert in Italy sparks controversy over ties to Putin," 2023. [3] BBC News, "Italy's culture minister warns against Gergiev concert becoming pro-Russian propaganda," 2023. [4] The New York Times, "Italian politicians divided over Valery Gergiev's concert amid Putin controversy," 2023. [5] The Times, "Valery Gergiev's concert in Italy faces protests and calls for cancellation," 2023.
- The controversy surrounding Valery Gergiev's performance in Italy on July 27 at the Caserta Palace has escalated to a heated political discourse, with some viewing it as a tacit endorsement of Russia's actions in Ukraine, particularly given Gergiev's close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin and his refusal to condemn the invasion.
- Alexei Navalny's widow, Yulia Navalnaya, has joined the chorus of voices calling for the cancellation of Gergiev's concert, stating that presenting it as a cultural event is misleading given Gergiev's political stance and actions, including his lack of distance from Putin and his controversial record in supporting Russia's military actions beyond Ukraine.
