Putin stooge cancels Carnegie Hall

Putin stooge cancels Carnegie Hall

Orchestras

norman lebrecht

March 27, 2023

The Russian bass Ildar Abrazakov has withdrawn from the role of Boris in the BSO’s next season performances of Shostakovich “Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk” in Boston and New York. He gives ‘family reasons’ as the cause. Ildar has lately been backing the Putin line.

He will be replaced by the Austrian bass Günther Groissböck.

Comments

  • Raymond Houser says:

    Just because he supports Putin, as a majority of Russians do, doesn’t make him a stooge. How about we separate culture from politics.

    • PG Vienna says:

      Psssstt….Putin aggression of Ukraine is not politics, its crime.

    • Serge says:

      Emotions are the most important. And writing “Putin + some adjective” makes butter on mr. Lebrecht’s bread.

    • I SAY: says:

      But Mr. Abrazakov, a cultural figure of some renown, clearly does not “separate culture from politics.” Does he (and his ilk) get a pass?

    • Paolo Ranieri says:

      At La Scala last 7th december Boris Godunov were present:
      The Predident of the Italy
      The Prime Minister
      The President of the Region Lombardia
      The Mayor of Milano
      The President of the European Commission.
      Are you still thinking that politis has noting to do with art?

    • Robert Holmén says:

      I’ll note that “stooge” is showbiz lingo for one who is a supporting/assisting performer to a central star.

      Like the lady who gets sawn in half or the clown who cleans up after the elephant… they do what they have to do to please their superior.

    • Tom Phillips says:

      It makes him an accomplice to genocidal war crimes and ethnic cleansing like the vast majority of Russians around the world, something obviously not historically unprecedented for this uniquely bloodthirsty ethnicity and national population.

  • Tiredofitall says:

    Yikes…it’s a toss up between the two. At least Hitler is dead. What is it with basses and totalitarianism?

  • Freewheeler says:

    Now we can’t have Wrongthink can we?

  • Edgar says:

    Splendid replacement, in more than musical ways.

  • Simpson says:

    “Family reasons” today in March 2023 for “canceling” in 2024 or “family reasons” in 2024 which are somehow known today? LOL!

  • PG Vienna says:

    Good riddance.

  • Bertrand says:

    Information ou propagande ?

  • Harry Collier says:

    I wish political blogs would stick to politics, and music blogs would stick to music.

  • Jammer Hammer Hummer says:

    Shame on Chailly and Meyer who insist in engaging this bass for the opening night at La Scala for the third time in three years!

  • Guest says:

    Why are you complaining? Shouldn’t you be happy he’s not coming?

  • Saint Elenskyyyy of Snow Mountain says:

    So does that make all you Ukridiots Biden Sheep, or Schwab Stooges?

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