Italian Music Festival Cancels Performance by Putin Ally Valery Gergiev

Valery Gergiev, a prominent Russian conductor known for his ties to President Vladimir Putin, faced a concert cancellation in Italy due to mounting pressure from critics and human rights organizations. The move reaffirms Italy's stance against welcoming figures associated with the Kremlin.

The organisers of a prestigious music festival in Italy have cancelled an upcoming concert featuring Russian conductor Valery Gergiev, a key ally of President Vladimir Putin. The decision came after significant backlash from critics of the Kremlin and human rights activists. Gergiev was set to conduct an Italian orchestra alongside artists from St Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theatre at a historic palace near Naples later this month.

The 72-year-old maestro has been effectively barred from acts in the West since the onset of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which he has notably refused to publicly condemn. Italian culture officials, including Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli, described the cancellation by the Un'Estate da RE festival as a matter of "common sense," emphasizing a commitment to uphold "the values of the free world."

While the Royal Palace of Caserta did not officially state the reasons for the concert's cancellation scheduled for July 27, Ukraine's calls to retract Gergiev's performance were influential. Ukrainian officials have labelled Gergiev "Putin’s mouthpiece," asserting that he should not be allowed to perform while Russian troops continue their military aggression.

Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, expressed her support for the cancellation, stating that "no artist who supports the current dictatorship in Russia should be welcomed in Europe."

Conversely, Moscow's ambassador to Italy condemned the cancellation as a "scandalous situation," framing it within a broader "policy of 'cancelling' Russian culture." Gergiev, once a celebrated figure in the West, regularly performed with top-tier institutions such as Milan's La Scala and New York's Carnegie Hall until relations were severed after the invasion.

Amid this controversy, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has publicly criticized President Putin, maintaining a firm stance against the inclusion of Russian cultural figures who endorse the Kremlin, despite her ministry’s previous role in supporting the Un'Estate da RE festival. The event has become a focal point during a period when leaders from across Europe converged to demonstrate support for Ukraine and discuss post-war recovery.