Gergiev pardons anti-Putin conductor

Six years ago, the Finnish volinist and conductor Dalia Stasevska made waves on a Ukrainian website by attacking Valery Gergiev and all his acolytes who unquestioningly supported Vladimir Putin’s wars of aggression.

Among other things she wrote:

Instead of supporting anti-humane and militant policies we, the musicians and artists, have the responsibility to fight for humanity. Our profession arises from a spiritual source inside us, making us compassionate and able to love everything living. There is so much beauty around us, that we can’t maybe sense clearly as often as necessary – maybe that is why we need an artists to remind us about basic human rights. I invite all the musicians and artists to use all their possible power to overcome the hatred and false emotions towards each other, to stop dictators, stop ignoring international law and its obligations as well not to resort to any further aggression towards Ukraine or any other peaceful country.

That was then.

This summer Stasevska will be conducting at Gergiev’s Finnish festival in Mikkeli (pictured). He has clearly forgiven her, and she has apparently swallowed her noble ideals.