Exclusive: Does Gergiev still have Munich agreement?

The Russian conductor, fired by Carnegie Hall, is chief of the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, but rumblings are being heard in Bavaria about his wholehearted support for President Putin’s Ukraine aggression.

The city of Munich is twinned with the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.

Several members of the orchestra yesterday added Ukrainian flags to their social-media profiles. The include the violinist Konstantin Sellheim (pictured), who is the players’ chairman.

The former principal horn Jörg Brückner has published an open appeal to the conductor:

Dear Maestro Gergiev,
You know how much I appreciate you as a human being and an artist. You were a wonderful chief conductor in Munich. I loved being able to play music with you. You were always a musical friend, a world figure and an open-hearted man.

I  therefore urge you to stand up for Ukraine and condemn this murderous attack on Ukraine.

Don’t let Putin instrumentalize you still further. Expose your heart and show yourself to be peaceful huuman being.
I send you a warm greeting,

Gergiev is next due to conduct in Munich, Bruckner’s eighth symphony on March 17.

UPDATE: Munich to Gergiev: You have 3 days to condemn Putin or get fired