Gergiev, Putin friend, out of Vienna Philharmonic US tour

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

NEW YORK (AP) — Valery Gergiev, a conductor who is close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, will not lead the Vienna Philharmonic in a five-concert U.S. tour that starts at Carnegie Hall on Friday night.

The 68-year-old Russian conductor is music director of the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia, the White Nights Festival there and is chief conductor of the Munich Philharmonic. He received a Hero of Labor of the Russian Federation prize that Putin revived in 2013 and has often voiced support of Putin, who has been widely condemned for ordering an invasion of Ukraine that began Thursday.

“This change was made due to recent world events,” Carnegie Hall spokeswoman Synneve Carlino said.

Ron Boling, a spokesman for the orchestra, said the Philharmonic would not comment when asked whether the decision was made by the orchestra, Gergiev or Carnegie.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/gergiev-putin-friend-out-of-vienna-philharmonic-us-tour/ar-AAUgJO5

[Ocelot II]

1. I'm sad to learn that Gergiev, a very talented conductor, is a Putinite.

[bahboo]

5. I know...had no idea....

[HUAJIAO]

8. He has been a strong suporter for many years. So is Denis Matsuev

the asshole pianist.

[rockfordfile]

2. Kick him the f out. Send him back to Russia

[texasfiddler]

3. Fuck him for being close to Vladimir Putin. I love a good symphony. But, fuck him!! NT

[Straw Man]

4. I think it would have been better ...

... if he had appeared and been booed so roundly that the concert had to stop.

[Coventina]

6. I get that, but it's not really fair to the musicians. n/t

[Tomconroy]

10. The concerts will take place with a different conductor

[bucolic_frolic]

7. His presence would have been disruptive.

It's sad that the arts become infested with geopolitics but that's the world today. His musical prestige and skills do not deserve a New York Bronx greeting. Whoever decided to yank him did the right thing.

[Tomconroy]

9. Good.