Protests against pro-Putin musicians
Protests and demonstrations by Ukrainians continued to follow conductor Valery Gergiev at many of his U.S. appearances. Mr. Gergiev was one of the prominent Russian artists who signed an open letter in support of Mr. Putin’s wars. Moreover, protesters emphasized that two Russian banks that were the principal partners of the Mariinsky Foundation of America (sponsors of Mr. Gergiev’s 2015 U.S. tour) were outlawed under U.S. sanctions.
On January 30, 150 people braved the bitter cold, gathering across from the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown, N.J., to protest the appearance of Mr. Gergiev, conducting the Mariinsky Orchestra at a gala concert celebrating the 20th anniversary of the arts center. Local print and online media covered the protest with reports and interviews.
Lev Khmelkovsky
Ukrainians protest the Morristown, N.J., concert of Valery Gergiev, conducting the Mariinsky Orchestra, at the Mayo Performing Arts Center on January 30.
One week later, on February 6, demonstrators showed up at the Adrienne Arsht Center of the Performing Arts in Miami to demonstrate at Mr. Gergiev’s next appearance. This group was joined by representatives from Amnesty International and the Gay and Lesbian Alliance.
Back north in Philadelphia on February 12-13, nearly 50 people came to the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts to protest Mr. Gergiev’s appearance with the Philadelphia Orchestra. As a result, Allison Vulgamore, the orchestra’s president and CEO, came outside both nights to talk with the protesters. The local ABC television station and the Philadelphia Inquirer covered the protests.
In an April 12 editorial “Hate speech is not free speech,” The Ukrainian Weekly reported the Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s (TSO) decision to cancel pianist Valentina Lisitsa’s guest appearances at concerts scheduled for Roy Thomson Hall. This action was widely reported and discussed in news media and launched a firestorm of cries of “censorship,” while Ms. Lisitsa called on all her fans to write to the TSO. Unfortunately, the vitriol had another victim. Stewart Goodyear, the pianist scheduled to replace Ms. Lisitsa regretted on his Facebook how “…her attitude and the mob-like behavior of her devotees, censored Rachmaninoff’s second concerto.”
Ms. Lisitsa had been exposed in a December 12, 2014, article in The Ukrainian Weekly “When ‘high culture’ merges with terrorism” for her racist and hateful posts on her Facebook pages, engaging in sweeping vulgar attacks, stereotyping Ukrainians. TSO President and CEO Jeff Melanson told The Canadian Press: “This is not about free speech… political perspective or persuasion, this is about very offensive, intolerant comments about people.” On April 26, Paul Grod, president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, wrote that the TSO was justified in the cancellation just as the NBA was justified in banning LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling for life over his racist remarks.