Russian pianist: All I can do is pray and cry

The young pianist Alexander Malofeev, sacked by a Canadian recital series this summer, has responded in some bewilderment to the present state of affairs.

Malofeev, 20, is not a Gergiev or Putin favourite. He was eliminated early from the last Tchaikovsky competition.

His anguish, however, will resonate in all quarters of the music world.

He writes:

It is very painful for me to see everything that is happening. I have never seen so much hatred going in all directions, in Russia and around the world. Most of the people with whom I have personally communicated these days are guided by only one feeling – fear.
I am contacted by journalists now who want me to make statements. I feel very uncomfortable about this and also think that it can affect my family in Russia.
I still believe Russian culture and music specifically should not be tarnished by the ongoing tragedy, though it is impossible to stay aside now.
Honestly, the only thing I can do now is to pray and cry.
It would seem that there are obvious conclusions: no problem can be solved by war, people cannot be judged by their nationality. But why, in a few days, has the whole world rolled back into a state where every person has a choice between fear and hatred?
I do understand that my problems are very insignificant compared to those of people in Ukraine, including my relatives who live there. The most important thing now is to stop the blood. All I know is that the spread of hatred will not help in any way, but only cause more suffering.