Putin’s classical stars rejoice as Kyiv is bombed

Putin’s classical stars rejoice as Kyiv is bombed

News

norman lebrecht

January 03, 2023

While Russian forces began a fresh rocket onslaught on Kyiv after midnight on January 1, leading Russian classical stars were seen on Russia-1 television celebrating with Putin’s war-crime defence minister Sergei Shoigu.

Among the classical personalities visible on the video are violist and conductor Yuri Bashmet (1:01 on the video), soprano Hibla Gerzmava (2:20) and bass singer Ildar Abdrazakov, who cancelled his last night of Boris Godunov at La Scala in order to be present.

The nostalgia performers on stage are ancient Soviet composer Alexandra Pakhmutova and crooner Lev Leshchenko.

In a further video clip, an old Soviet song is belted out in Ukrainian.

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