Russian lies: ‘Carnegie Hall boss to chair Tchaikovsky Competition jury’

In an English memo to western journalists, Moscow has announced the following jury chairs in the 65th anniversary Tchaikovsky Competition, starting this week:

Piano – Denis Matsuev
Violin – Martin Engstroem
Cello – Clive Gillinson
Voice – Sarah Billinghurst Solomon
Woodwinds – Denis Bouriakov
Brass – Ian Bousefield

Gillinson is president of Carnegie Hall. Engstroem runs the Verbier Festival. Both are friends of Valery Gergiev, the competition’s co-chair.

UPDATE: Gillinson strongly denies ever having agreed to serve, as does Sarah Billinghurst Solomon. The list which was issued yesterday (see link), seems identical to that of four years ago.

We apologise for having been miseld by official-looking Russian propaganda.

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Pictured: Gillinson (r) with Gergiev