‘Impossible’: Bolshoi music director quits over calls to denounce Ukraine invasion
Tugan Sokhiev resigns without stating his position, saying he could not choose between ‘my beloved Russian and beloved French musicians’
Russian Tugan Sokhiev conducts the Berlin Philharmonic orchestra in Germany in 2019. He has quit as the Bolshoi Theatre music director amid pressure to take a position on the conflict in Ukraine. Photograph: Clemens Bilan/EPA
The Bolshoi Theatre’s music director and principal conductor Tugan Sokhiev announced his resignation Sunday, saying he felt under pressure due to calls to take a position on the Ukraine conflict.
The Russian said in a statement he was resigning “with immediate effect” from his post at the Moscow theatre, as well as his equivalent position at France’s Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse.
Sokhiev was appointed by the Bolshoi in 2014. He was brought in as part of moves to improve the theatre’s image after scandals including the 2013 acid attack on its then-artistic director Sergei Filin.
The Bolshoi Theatre’s music director and principal conductor Tugan Sokhiev announced his resignation Sunday, saying he felt under pressure due to calls to take a position on the Ukraine conflict.
The Russian said in a statement he was resigning “with immediate effect” from his post at the Moscow theatre, as well as his equivalent position at France’s Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse.
Sokhiev was appointed by the Bolshoi in 2014. He was brought in as part of moves to improve the theatre’s image after scandals including the 2013 acid attack on its then-artistic director Sergei Filin.
The show can’t go on: Russian arts cancelled worldwide
He comes from the same North Ossetia region of Russia as star conductor Valery Gergiev and is considered to be his protege. A Kremlin loyalist, Gergiev was stripped of his role at the Munich Philharmonic last week, for failing to denounce Russia’s actions.
In a lengthy statement posted to social media, Sokhiev wrote that “many people were waiting for me to express myself and to hear from me my position on what’s happening at the moment,” referring to Russia’s military action in Ukraine.
He said he decided to resign after “being forced to face the impossible option of choosing between my beloved Russian and beloved French musicians”.
He cited opposition from authorities in Toulouse to his planned staging of a Franco-Russian music festival there, saying they “want me to express myself for peace”.
Sokhiev became music director of the Toulouse orchestra in 2008 and continued to work with the orchestra after joining the Bolshoi.
Sokhiev did not say explicitly whether he backs or opposes Russia’s actions in Ukraine, but said, “I have never supported and I will always be against any conflicts in any shape and form.”
He said musicians are becoming “victims of so-called ‘cancel culture’” and suggested Russian music could come under threat.
“I will be soon asked to choose between Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, Shostakovich and Beethoven, Brahms, Debussy,” he said.
The Bolshoi’s general director Vladimir Urin told Tass state news agency he was saddened by Sokhiev’s decision.
“I’m very sorry. His departure is a serious problem for the Bolshoi Theatre. It’s unclear how the situation will develop from now”, he said.
Sokhiev is the latest in a series of high-profile Russian cultural figures who have resigned or been fired over their unwillingness to publicly state their positions on the conflict, including Gergiev and soprano Anna Netrebko.
He comes from the same North Ossetia region of Russia as star conductor Valery Gergiev and is considered to be his protege. A Kremlin loyalist, Gergiev was stripped of his role at the Munich Philharmonic last week, for failing to denounce Russia’s actions.
In a lengthy statement posted to social media, Sokhiev wrote that “many people were waiting for me to express myself and to hear from me my position on what’s happening at the moment,” referring to Russia’s military action in Ukraine.
He said he decided to resign after “being forced to face the impossible option of choosing between my beloved Russian and beloved French musicians”.
He cited opposition from authorities in Toulouse to his planned staging of a Franco-Russian music festival there, saying they “want me to express myself for peace”.
Sokhiev became music director of the Toulouse orchestra in 2008 and continued to work with the orchestra after joining the Bolshoi.
Sokhiev did not say explicitly whether he backs or opposes Russia’s actions in Ukraine, but said, “I have never supported and I will always be against any conflicts in any shape and form.”
He said musicians are becoming “victims of so-called ‘cancel culture’” and suggested Russian music could come under threat.
“I will be soon asked to choose between Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, Shostakovich and Beethoven, Brahms, Debussy,” he said.
The Bolshoi’s general director Vladimir Urin told Tass state news agency he was saddened by Sokhiev’s decision.
“I’m very sorry. His departure is a serious problem for the Bolshoi Theatre. It’s unclear how the situation will develop from now”, he said.
Sokhiev is the latest in a series of high-profile Russian cultural figures who have resigned or been fired over their unwillingness to publicly state their positions on the conflict, including Gergiev and soprano Anna Netrebko.
Wakakakaka…
ReplyDeleteDon't forget about FIFE - International Cat Federation bans Russian cats from competitions.
What's next?
The irrationality of the current Western demonization!
The video of the Russian ballistic missile destroying an entire apartment block in Ukraine went viral, raw , undeniable. How many people were killed there ?
ReplyDeleteThe sterile arguments in the first day of the war whether NATO "provoked" into attacking Ukraine has turned into grief, anger.
Stop the Killing.
The Russian elites, Fat Cats, especially those who benefit handsomely from their international connections , who refuse to disavow the Russian war crimes are being Cancelled internationally. And rightly so.
Know-nothing mfer, can u actually distinguish ballistic missile from rocket projectile?
DeleteMost of the CNN/BBC footages of 'ballistic missile' attacks were actually caused by rocket projectiles.
The clear extend of the damages shown is the telltale sign to those who know!
Ballistic missile carries heavy explosive that can inflicts huge damage. If a building is been hit by a ballistic missile, chances r it would collapse into a pile of crumbled debris. Yet most these western MSM footages shown, the buildings were still standing with minor collapsed structures with many surface debrises scattering around. Indicating that the explosive power causing these damages r small!.
How many people were killed?
Depending on whether the occupants had left or been used as human shields by the defending Ukrainian nationalists!
Only then u ask that spurious self-righteousness humanitarian question of civilian casualties!
Stop the killing?
Then negotiate with true compromising intentions.
So far, in all 3 negotiations, the Russian delegates were the one arrived first on the meeting table! Indicating their eagerness to negotiate.
Meanwhile those Ukrainians were playing guessing games, time & again, in time & location choosing!
So, WHICH side is the one that is prolonging the suffering of the ordinary Ukrainians?
Perhaps there is some truth in the rumour that the Ukrainian nationalists r intentionally creating waves upon waves of white refugees to emotionally tighten the 'humanitarian' feelings of those people of the surrounding countries towards these refugees, thus forcing their countried to get military involved!
Mfer, do remember this the next time u mentioned WAR CRIME!
Oh ya with body bags as proof :
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qw-EQyeV_UY