Is it justifiable to ban Russian music and musicians closely associated with Vladimir Putin, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine? Should art rise above international conflicts? How much influence does the inclusion of politics in music, opera and songs actually have? Miriam Cosic looks back across history to explore the issue.
When Russia invaded Ukraine under President Vladimir Putin’s orders in February 2022, a number of Western opera houses and concert halls immediately cancelled collaborations with Russian state houses, including the Bolshoi in Moscow and the Mariinsky in St Petersburg, as well as with musicians closely connected with the Russian government.
Conductor Valery Gergiev, a friend of Putin’s, was dropped by his management company,...
Comments
Log in to join the conversation.