Breaking: Bolshoi chief conductor quits – with immediate effect
mainVasily Sinaisky, an excellent and experienced conductor, walked out today. No reason was given. A terse statement from Bolshoi general director Vladimir Urin said: ‘I decided to grant his request. Vasily Seraphimovich Sinai is not working at the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia.’
The resignation came two weeks ahead of a new production of Do Carlo that Sinaisky was supposed to conduct.
The Bolshoi is plunged once more into chaos. UPDATE: Here’s why he quit.
photo: Ria/Novosty/Lebrecht Music&Arts
Hasn’t that become its natural state? Comment NOT entirely facetious. More intrigue BEHIND the scenes than on stage. But it seems a microcosm of Russia itself.
I was thinking a similar thing. Russia is, sadly, stuck between the communist (in the worst application of the principles) and gansta-capitalism and the arts cannot help but channel whatever circumstances it incubates within; the view of a certain opera “Diva” not withstanding. Putin’s pugilistic political philosophy is poisoning all aspects of Russian society. How can the arts and arts institutions not suffer as a result?
Here is another recent story coming from the same “organization” or, if you prefer, “institution”: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-bolshoi-joy-womack-20131115,0,145973.story#axzz2ltfVbTOB .