Italy’s Royal Palace of Caserta cancelled a concert by Russian maestro Valery Gergiev on Sunday after criticism from politicians and Kremlin critics. The event was slammed by Ukraine and sparked calls for protests by Russia’s exiled opposition. Gergiev, a vocal supporter of President Vladimir Putin, has not condemned Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, despite being fired from the Munich Philharmonic in 2022.
The cancellation came after days of uncertainty, with no official reason given by the palace. Kremlin critics welcomed the decision, but Russia’s ambassador to Italy called it a “scandalous situation” that was part of Western politicians’ efforts to suppress Russian culture. Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli described the cancellation as “common sense,” aimed at protecting the values of the free world.
Gergiev is known for conducting epic symphonies and has performed in Western opera houses, but his stance on Russia’s invasion remains unchanged. The decision marks a blow to Gergiev’s international reputation, which had been damaged since 2022 when he was shunned by the West.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/21/italy-cancels-concert-by-putin-ally-gergiev