Vienna Opera chief calls for end to Russia bans
NewsThe former director of the Vienna Staatsoper Ioan Holender has published an article in the mass-market Kurier calling for an end to all bans on Russian artists and sportsmen.
He begins with weasel words: ‘No one doubts that the war that broke out in Ukraine a year ago was caused by its neighbor, the Russian Federation. Whatever the reason, those who started the war should be condemned.’
However: ‘What does the wrongly banned Russian athlete think? How does the aspiring pianist or singer react who, despite his qualifications, is not admitted to the competition because of his Russian descent?
‘They will all feel frustrated and stolen from the West. Their resentment will not be directed at the warring government of their homeland, but at the evil West that treats them unfairly.’
This ia a pethetic bleat that ignores Putin’s personal need for cultural validation and sporting success. The support of global artists like Gergiev, Matsuev and Netrebko make him feel like a player on the world stage. Likweise the Olympic triumphs of ice-hockey players and distance runners (David Cameron has provided chilling evidence of his enthusiasm at the 2021 London Olympics).
What the dubious Holender fails to see is that an effective measure to stop Putin’s war is to isolate him economically, culturally and individually – along with his prominent supporters.
Why won’t Holender along wth Vienna’s current chief begin organizing concert presentations by their beloved and innocent Russians such as Netrebko, Gergiev and Matsuev all over and around unoccupied Ukraine? You know, for humanitarian, cultural and spirit-lifting purposes.
no one is listening to the rubbish this man full of vanity is saying, his talkshows on TV are a joke like all his silly questions and generally he has become a ridiculous figure for the boulevard
‘…an effective measure to stop Putin’s war is to isolate him economically, culturally and individually – along with his prominent supporters.’
Well, it’s February 2023 and the war hasn’t been stopped, and Putin is still there. So it’s not been as effective as you think, has it Norman?
Also Norman, you write an article condemning an opera competition in Norway banning Russian entrants. Now you seem to be in favour of it. What side are you on? Make your mind up!
Anyway, Holender is right. Amen to his words.
Shame on you…whoever you are
No – shame on you. Just because you’re Ukrainian doesn’t mean you’re superior to the rest of the world.
Ukraine is rated the 3rd most corrupt country in the world. It even beats Russia in that department. I’m very impressed.
So invading another country and targeting civilians is A-OK if Hayne labels the country (with no supporting evidence) on the corruption list? And no way in hades does it beat Russia, which must be top-2 in terms of official corruption.
You have no idea what transpired before 2022.
Being historically illiterate makes propaganda sooo much more effective.
On corruption, I apologize.
I was looking at Earnst and Young survey from 2012.
The latest from 2016 has Ukraine #1 for most corrupt countries from 41 surveyed.
Russia was #16.
Hope this helps.
After one year Putin is still there…. yes Hitler was there 6 years after he triggered the second World War, so what are trying to say ?
I’m trying to say that banning Russian people from making music, banning Russian culture, and banning Russian competitions will do NOTHING to stop the war. What are YOU trying to say? Probably not anything meaningful nor helpful.
No one banned “Russian people” from making music. Only Putin-supporters and those supporting his war crimes have been banned. And technically they have been banned from contracts paying them for making music, not from making music. Financial support to Putin’s lackeys is support for Putin and Russia. If these Russian friends of Putin agreed to do a benefit concert for Ukraine’s humanitarian relief, I believe they would be welcome. And you obviously haven’t been around any major opera or concert venue, where Russian composers and Russian musicians not aligned with Putin have been performing regularly since the start of the war. Do you need a list?
oh there are people banning Russians from making music.
I have a problem with the Queen Sonja competition in Norway banning all Russian singers full stop.
I also have a problem with any potential boycott of the Tchaikovsky competition full stop.
This person does not seem to understand that in the “West” we absolutely do not care that some Russians have a beef with us. They belong to a criminal country led by a criminal. What about if after the second World War, we care about what the German thinks. Not all Russians are banned on the top of it, only those who support Putin, so please stop that crap Mr.Former Director!
again, do not take anything of him seriously, he is what the Austrians call a
‘Lachnummer’ – it’s somehow sad though how his rubbish will add another mark on his overall poor performance at the Vienna Opera
Now think about that: the war in Iraq cost MANY more civilian lives, then the war in Ukraine so far.
Now such comparisons are always partially flawed, but comparing the innocent death is not.
Now what does that make the US of A? A criminal mass murdering country too? I guess so. It‘s complicated. Unless your loved ones are killed by a foreign illegally occupying power. Then it‘s simple. And horrible.
Ah, Austria. Since the days you were “forced” to be part of the Reich which brought you order, bread and great autobahns, your spinning moral compass has always impressed.
Holender is an apologist for tyrants and fascists.
Personally, I’ve had it with this Domingo-, Currentzis-, Netrebko- enabling crowd and will spend my culture money elsewhere.
MMcGrath Holender is not Austrian, he’s Romanian. And the currect chief at the opera is Serbian. Ok, the old Empire, but still.
It’s only about four years ago since Putin attended the wedding of the Austrian foreign minister. He gave her a pair of earrings worth €50,000. Lovely
We should be careful with cultural boycots. In a dictatorship such as Russia, it’s often difficult to assess the responsibility of individual artists.
On the other hand, when a democracy occupies the land and steals the resources of an entire nation for over half a century against international treaties and UN Security Council resolutions, a boycot seems almost inevitable.
Unless that nation is called Israel, of course.
Or unless that nation is called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (of which, I am ashamed to say, I am a citizen).
Or unless that nation is called the United States of America.
Those two countries are at least as guilty as Russia or Israel of war crimes, illegal invasions, occupying land, and stealing resources (the Americans are still occupying a significant oil-producing portion of Syria, despite having no right to be there). The double standards are quite breathtaking. For instance, why do so many countries in the West recognise Kosovo in defiance of UN Security Council Resolution 1244 (which affirms the territorial integrity of Serbia), and yet condemn Russia for following that precedent in recognising South Ossetia, Abkhazia, Crimea, Donetsk, Lugansk, &c.?
Or maybe we could stop all the boycotts and double standards and celebrate that music transcends political, cultural, or national divisions…
Why keep pretending that Jews building homes prevents peace?
Palestinian terrorism and disinterest in a two-state solution ensure that peace is impossible. But the United States and its allies prefer to focus on Israeli housing starts.
Didn’t you make a furious post about the Queen Sonja competition not admitting russians and belarussians a few weeks ago?
Yes he did. Clearly he’s either
1) made a U turn
2) forgot that he did
3) joining in on any side of the argument to keep the argument going in order to get clicks and viewership because he never had a strong opinion either way
It‘s 3)
https://www.euronews.com/video/2023/02/16/fact-check-whats-behind-the-anti-zelenskyy-graffiti-popping-up-all-across-europe
I disagree with Mr. Holender. This war Putin & Russians are perpetrating is absolutely heinous.
Holender is right. It is too narrow sighted to ban the russian artists and so on. To get towards peace one has to be peaceful and inclusive at heart
Where is Marco Goecke when you need him?
“What the dubious Holender fails to see is that an effective measure to stop Putin’s war is to isolate him economically, culturally and individually – along with his prominent supporters.”
“Effective” is a welcome word, if it isn`t just a word, a mere assumption. Not quite the same thing as pointing out that Gergiev is morally wrong in tooting Putin`s horn.
Sadly, after WW1 and before WW2 ineffective decisions were made. I hope the world makes it this time.
https://www.aol.com/news/ukraine-aid-support-softens-us-170724951.html
All this man cares about is the revenue he is losing from his Russian artists not appearing at the Staatsoper.
Ha-ha-ha!
Is this person a standard for morality?
His immoral attitude is typical of Vienna – not to mention Austria more generally – which was in fact more supportive of Hitler and the Nazis than Germany ever was and never engaged in any meaningful soul-searching after as we see with many of the leaders they subsequently elected: Waldheim, Jorg Haider etc. Naturally the Statsoper is one of the major employers of Netrebko right now while she has been boycotted elsewhere.
An amusing example of lack of knowledge and prejudice based on ethnic origin. Russian officials have equally amusing things to say regarding the Ukrainians (all “Nazis”, therefore Putin ordered “denazification”), so you’re in great company.
No sensible person has called for a ban on “Russian” musicians, sports figures, etc. The call has been to ban Russians who have affirmatively chosen to speak out for Putin, such as Gergiev, Netrebko, and Matsuev. But if the average Russian singer or instrumentalist has not said anything at all, there is no reason to ban him or her.
No one should be “banned” or “cancelled” based only on where they were born and raised – it was not their choice. But those who as adults express their support for a murderous dictatorial regime that has been for a long time now invading neighboring countries and committing numerous crimes against humanity should be held responsible and treated accordingly.
I am not a fan of BDS
“What the dubious Holender fails to see is that an effective measure to stop Putin’s war is to isolate him economically, culturally and individually – along with his prominent supporters.”