The Italian Ministry of Culture has cancelled its support for a concert featuring Russian conductor Valery Gergiev, scheduled to take place on July 27. The decision comes after protests from the European Union and other organizations.
The ministry stated that the concert “rises above the wrong message” due to concerns over Gergiev’s past actions and associations with Vladimir Putin’s regime. MEP Pina Picierno echoed these sentiments, saying that hosting Gergiev would be incompatible with the UN’s 2030 Agenda, which aims to eradicate violence, torture, arms trafficking, and promote fair justice.
The decision has also sparked concerns over cultural consistency, as Russia has been accused of damaging historic sites in Ukraine and Ukraine. The Reggia di Caserta, a UNESCO site, is among those sites.
Source: https://slippedisc.com/2025/07/rome-cancels-support-for-gergiev-concert