The concert pianist who’s opposing the war…. in Moscow
NewsVAN magazine has an outstanding interview with Polina Osetinskaya, a Moscow pianist who can now only perform in private.
There is some kind of collective guilt. I’ve always expressed my thoughts and feelings about what’s going on truthfully and loudly. I’ve always stood up for political prisoners in our country and I’ve always fought for the truth. Like harpsichordish Liza Miller wrote, we really thought that we were doing enough, with the little things that we did. But mostly, the shame I experience is that we didn’t change anything, and now we can’t. Thinking of our role is very painful for me.
VAN: There is supposedly a list of 37 banned artists, mainly from pop culture, that is sent to promoters within Russia. Is there something similar for classical music? Do you know if you are on such a list?
PO: My concerts in Russia were canceled in all state and government concert halls. I know a couple of musicians personally who were forced to stop performing. There are many denunciations against me: “Polina is still writing bad things about the government,” which I’ve been doing constantly for the last 10, 15 years. I never had concerts in the most important halls here in Russia because of my political positions. I’ve been told by many conductors and many concert hall promoters that I talk too much.
VAN: Your concerts in St. Petersburg and Irkutsk last September were canceled at short notice, supposedly for “health reasons.” How is this communicated to you?
PO: In St. Petersburg, they informed me a day in advance. I had just gotten to the city. No one tells me the real reason, but everybody understands the real reason. The only concert that hasn’t been canceled yet is with Vladimir Spivakov in the Moscow House of Music, which is supposed to take place in March. But until I play this concert I don’t know if it’s going to happen, usually they can cancel it half an hour before the performance. Maybe they just didn’t have time to look at the programs yet. …
Read on here
This lady is not only courageous but also a tremendous pianist-musician. I have long admired her playing. It brings me joy to learn about her stance. Such stark contrast to well-known opportunistic and crude others.
Have you seen new Kreutzer with Vengerov – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUaV1zDHdtU
I was thinking Valentina Lisitsa. She’s Ukrainian. So got fired from the Ontario Symphony in Canada for saying that the media is lying about the war in the Ukraine.
I understand Lisitsa is pro-Russian invasion. Of course, that is her choice.
Be that as it may, her being fired was no loss to Ontario music lovers: she is a piano-banger and nothing more.
I don’t know anything about Polina Osetinskaya’s playing, and I shall watch this vid with interest, but she is certainly one brave woman!
Greg, we heard Polina Osetinskaya this past October in Worcester MA as the pianist for Maxim Vengerov in a recital. None of us had ever heard of her before. Not only was Vengerov as outstanding as he always is (my vote for the best living violinist), but each of us walked out of the recital saying, “who was that pianist – she’s extraordinary!” We all agreed that we wanted to hear more or her as well in a solo recita. And this was before we knew anything about her personal beliefs or political stance. She is one very brave woman. And more than that, she’s an outstanding accompanist and pianist who is stunning to hear.
If you get the chance to hear Polina Osetinskaya, run to get tickets!
(ditto Vengerov)
Herr Doktor: isn’t it wonderful to have a musical surprise like that?
I have heard Vengerov and I agree with your high opinion of him.
I watched the vid posted above, and Polina is marvelous in it. If she ever appears in San Francisco, with or without Vengerov, I shall certainly make the effort to hear her. (I am no longer able to travel out of town.)
– best regards, Greg
Dear Valentina is a Putin stooge.
You make it sound like she’s being punished for expressing an opinion but you are leaving quite a lot out. She is a Ukrainian citizen but openly hates ethnic Ukrainians. Her social media has posted extremely vulgar hate speech about Ukrainians.
Maybe they deserve her hate? I am 1/4 Ukrainian myself and boy, do I hate ethnic Ukrainians.
Most touching is her comment, “the shame I experience is that we didn’t change anything.”
It was never possible that classical music could change the world she lives in — but it can offer consolation to her and others.
Now, this is a brave woman. Of course not as brave as the Slippeddisc’s keyboard warriors dreaming of an endless war in Ukraine, but still very brave.
I think the number of SD readers dreaming of endless war is zero. OTOH, your hero the barbarian Putin is willing to let it run on indefinitley.
She is making an important statement. Russia is not the only place where speaking truth to power harms the careers of artists.
Listening to this again after a few weeks, I’m struck by the beauty of her phrasing and touch.
“But mostly, the shame I experience is that we didn’t change anything, and now we can’t.”
Leave.
She probably has a family there and if she left, they would bear the brunt of it.
That’s the easy way out. In fact, that’s what Putin wants : for the troublemakers to leave and the submissive to stay.
“a lot of Russians do not want and did not want this fratricidal war”
To be fair: This quote is from February last year. Ukrainians stopped thinking of their murderers as “brothers”. That’s one thing many “good” ruzzians don’t really grasp. They should refrain from calling them brothers for the next decades. Like really.
“For example, there are a lot of Ukrainian refugees here in Russia. [Many are forcibly resettled to Russia.—Ed.]”
What the editor says.
Other than that: Much better than the letter-writing apology-expecting little diva.
Spivakov will cancel her before the government does – he’s a Putin stooge who will stoop to any level to maintain that status.
“A number of prominent Russian musicians and other cultural figures have come together to sign an appeal that calls upon Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine. Among the signatories are violinist Vladimir Spivakov, Bolshoi Theatre General Director Vladimir Urin, and the Artistic Director of St Petersburg’s Alexandrinsky Theatre Valery Folkin.”
theviolinchannel.com
The bravery of being out of range, as Roger Waters nailed it. I’d call it “courage” only if she goes to Moscow to play with Spivakov in March. But for now I’ll refrain.
I want to express my admiration for Polina Osetinskaya as a pianist and an integrity and apologise for the fact that people like Trump betray her and all my Russian friends who long for democracy. I hope it helps to know you and they have friends.