Just in: Berlin Philharmonic cancels Odesa trip
NewsIt appears the elite orchestra was planning to play this year’s Europakonzert in a Ukrainian port city presently under Russian bombardment. This morning they decided to cancel.
Press release:
The Berliner Philharmoniker have celebrated the anniversary of their founding on 1 May with the Europakonzert at a location of special historical significance since 1991. This year’s concert celebrating the orchestra’s 140th anniversary was originally scheduled to take place at the Odesa National Academic Opera. Due to the attack on Ukraine, another venue has had to be found. The Berliner Philharmoniker and chief conductor Kirill Petrenko are very grateful to the team of the Great Amber Concert Hall in Liepāja, Latvia, that this year’s Europakonzert can be held there at such short notice. It is a show of solidarity with Odesa and Ukraine and for peaceful coexistence in Europe. Together with the Latvian mezzo-soprano Elīna Garanča, a new programme has been created that focuses on composers whose musical message is about freedom and self-determination.
Scotland does not have freedom or self-determination. The Berlin Phil is welcome here.
Doesn’t have a decent concert hall or oper house either, does it (not a prequisite for the BPO May Day concert I know)?
Understandable from a certain point of view.
Ukraine and Russia need to find the solutions. Also for what are supposed to be independent yet related cultural identities.
There is no point giving other nations the blame for failed policy decisions in the past or expecting more sacrifices from them.
The western capitalistic world is selfish by definition and favours the individual. If you urgently want to defend that system you need to be ruthless and throw all principles over board.
cynic and scoundrel
On the contrary; ours is the age of collectivism.
The Berlin Phil would certainly find a welcome in Liss, UK.
Latvia could be next on the Putin grand tour of domination.
I have a friend who is one of the conductors at the Odesa Theatre and he certainly would not appreciate some of these trivial remarks and comparisons.