Berlin Philharmonic concertmaster applauds Gergiev’s expulsion
NewsThe soloist Lisa Batiashvili, who is acting concertmaster in the Berlin Philharmonic all of this week, has acclaimed the dismissal of Valery Gergiev from the Munich Philharmonic, followed by his boycott across the rest of Europe.
‘A bit overdue in my opinion,’ she told the Passauer Neue Presse. ‘To be honest, someone who supports war and occupation does not belong on a free European stage for me.’
Batiashvili denounced Russia’s aggression in Crimea in 2014. Living in Munich, she refused to perform with the city’s philharmonic orchestra under Gergiev, whom she regards as a representative of the Putin regime.
She will play a Ukraine relief concert tomorrow with the DSO Berlin, conducted by Alan Gilbert, with Rolando Villazón, Kirill Gerstein, François Leleux, Max Raabe and Ian Wekwerth.
In other repercussions to the Gerviev boycott, Munich’s ruling coalition has rallied around the Mayor’s decision to sack the conductor. The one abstention from a letter of support was the far-right AfD, which appears to support the Russian cause. The composer Wolfgang Rihm has complained the Gergiev was put under ‘mental pressure.’
A further critical voice was heard in Austria where the Salzburg Festival director Markus Hinterhäuser said on national television that the Munich mayor should have resigned over his ‘mistake’ in originally supporting Gergiev. Salzburg is heavily dependent on Gazprom and oligarch cash.
UPDATE: Specifically, what Hinterhäuser said was that the mayor had been hypocritical in declaring two weeks earlier, ‘Munich can consider itself lucky to have Gergiev. This, he said, was a hypocrisy: ‘The Mayor, admitting his mistake in renewing Gergiev‘s contract, should have resigned – knowing about all the close relationship between Gergiev and Putin.’
Brava, Lisa! One of the best violin soloists of her generation.
Salzburg would want to be careful. Hinterhauser is on the wrong side of the argument. Wouldn’t want to keep this up.
Absolutely, although depressingly Hinterhauser seems to be fully in line with the Austrian government, who only yesterday decided to send military aid (in this case helmets) not just to Ukraine but to Russia too… This ridiculous concept of ‘neutrality’ will not end well for the Republic…
It’s a small thing in this world of very big things, but: if you don’t have an umlaut you can replace it with oe, as in Göth or Goeth. And it can make a sometime big difference, as in hören and horen.
No it doesn’t. You must be thinking of “Huren”…different pronunciation.
The Salzburg Festival is so yesterday!!
Hinterhauser is lucky as so far he had the German press behind him though the Festival was mostly mediocre since he took over – his female companion, the finally retired Rabl-Stadler was greedy and loud and never showed empathy – not a stylish woman who was mostly interested in a show when luring Gazprom and promoting Putin – shameful behaviour
Not even an ear implant would help him.
Gergiev’s ‘friends’ have been public knowledge for years,yet he was employed on a regular basis by the management of the LSO.Utterly disgraceful and amoral by those responsible for employing him.
Gergiev was the principal conductor of the LSO. Apparently the players knew what was going on, but professionally continued working with him as he was the chief conductor. Contracts. Those were difficult times. Cancel him? And no work for the musicians? Nothing is ever what it seems.
A principal player (governed by principles) of LSO quit the moment Gergiev was appointed aware of the rumours swirling around him.
Are you the Peter Feltham who used to be at DCF?
Stalin was Georgian and was responsible for millions of deaths. Did this lady shvilli, a Georgian nationalist condemn Stalin? She should be barred because of support of Stalin. Her position of mixing politics with culture is despicable. She should be remembered for that and shunned. Daniel Barenboim explained this very well… Shame on her and similar political jacks.
I’m sure it’s safe to assume that Lisa Batiashvili is not a fan of Stalin. And no Russian has been “cancelled” merely for being Russian – though a few have unfortunately had a couple gigs cancelled. Those being totally shunned have been shunned for what they have said/done (or failed to do). I’m sure you understand the difference and are just trolling.
As far as i know ,she hadn´t even been born when Stalin died.A fact which obviously escaped your attention…..
Such a ridiculous comment!
I suppose you know that Stalin, who died in 1953, had been dead already for 27 years when this lady was born?
Just in case someone takes this “despicable” comment seriously, here are a few relevant facts.
There is no “lady shvili”, but there is Lisa Batiashvili who is one of the world’s finest violinists. She was born 26 years after Stalin died, so a bit late to “condemn” him. She does however condemn the current Russian dictator and his supporters – deservedly so – precisely because he is trying very hard, no matter how many thousands (if not millions) of human beings are murdered, to turn his country all the way back to Stalinist kind of empire. Well done, Lisa!
Where were you when Iraq was invaded. Girgiev has a right to express his views. As far as I can see this was caused by the American’s egging on NATO, so as to put nuclear weapons nearer the Russian border. Why should you, and people like you be judge and jury.
And Hitler had a right to his opinions Frank.
He certainly “has a right to express his views”, but no one has any obligation to hire him.
Time to sack Hinterhäuser instead!
Time to boycott Lisa Batiashvili and BPO 🙁
They won’t miss you.
Dream on
Go for it – one of the world’s greatest orchestras and one of the world’s finest violinists will miss you terribly. Not.
Batiashvili says it all. As a tourist Salzburg is one of my favourites but its relationship with Karajan, history of the Mozart Museum etc. means it needs an honest reappraisal in 21st century Europe.
What do you mean, Dave? Should it all be cancelled then? Because so far, that seems to have been the dominant movement of what you call 21st Century Europe. We’ve yet to see many great achievements to replace all the cancellations, though.
There is a huge difference between “cancelling” someone for uttering a “politically incorrect” word or even for an imperfect behavior that may or may not make another person uncomfortable, as opposed to doing so because of that prominent artist’s consistent outspoken support for a mass murdering war criminal.
Hinterhäuser gets into some hot water with that interview, but not as scalding hot as is suggested above.
https://tvthek.orf.at/profile/kulturMontag/13886866/kulturMontag/14127012/Studiogespraech-Markus-Hinterhaeuser-Bogdan-Roi/15121096
He doesn’t say the firing of Gergiew was a mistake, instead he is critiquing the Munich mayor for “Scheinheiligkeit” (righteous hypocrisy): Making a big production of firing him without admitting his own Fehler (mistake) in embracing Gergiev just a few years back.
Given Hinterhäuser’s ties with Gergiev and Russian cash in Salzburg, he would better have stayed mum. He comes across as anxious and defensive.
Otherwise he is making the pretty unobjectionable point that prominent musicians deserve scrutiny for their Putin ties but lesser-known others should not be subjected to ultimatums because of whatever pressures and threats they may be under at home. He’s not getting treated fairly in the Abendzeitung report below. The comment that some artists may be fearing for their lives is not said in relation to Gergiev, that is said before Gergiev’s name comes up.
https://www.abendzeitung-muenchen.de/kultur/musik/salzburger-festspielchef-keine-haltung-breitseite-fuer-reiter-nach-gergiev-rausschmiss-art-798356
How brave…. when you live outside Russia…
There are plenty of people living inside Russia who do not express their unwavering support of the Kremlin’s dictator at every opportunity and even do openly protest against his murderous “special military operation” on the streets of many Russian cities.
Lisa isn´t the acting concertmaster of the Berlin Phil,nor has she ever been….Acting concertmaster(or indeed,any acting principal) is a position bestowed for a limited,longer period of time.Often until a replacement for the former inhabitant of the position is found,or as a replacement for sick leave or maternal leave..Lisa played one gig as guest concertmaster,that´s the correct term.Guest principals are quite frequently,for one concert or more.Particularly in Great Britain,but also in Germany or the US….As much as Lisa Batiashvili and the Berlin Phil certainly enjoyed the experience,i seriously doubt her international schedule leaves any time for more…
Good for you, Lisa B!
Two thumbs up from me.
Not only should Berlin permanently ban Gergiev, they need to hire Vanessa Benelli Mosell as their next Music Director.