Famed pianist is on Russia’s latest list of 50 banned musicians
NewsThe independent media site Medusa has produced a list of 50 musicians newly banned by the Russian authorities. The blacklist is compiled by the Kremlin’s Department for Public Projects of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation, headed by Sergei Noviko. It mostly includes artists who have spoken out against the Ukraine war, but several names belong to people who have never said a word about it: they simply failed to sing Putin’s praises when otfered to do so.
Among the newly banned are the composer Dmitry Emelyanov and the courageous pianist Polina Osetinskaya.
Osetinskaya is some pianist. There’s a Kreutzer sonata (with Vengerov) you can watch online which is a marvel, also lots of other performances, solo and chamber. She’s just terrific.
In agreement. In addition to being a great pianist and musician she is the embodiment of genuine courage.
Totally agree! We heard Vengerov and Osetinskaya in a fabulous recital in October 2022, and it was over the top in every way. Osetinskaya was a marvel in her solo piece – as well as a formidable accompanist with Vengerov. They’re two artists truly worthy of each other! We hope to hear Osetinskaya in a solo recital in the Boston area someday.
AND she’s an incredibly brave woman as well, not just a fantastic pianist.
Politics and the Arts have never been good bedfellows. While regimes and politicians come and go, the arts soldier on.
Surely a badge of honor.
Wow
As someone old enough to have visited the Soviet Union when it was unabashedly called that, I feel as if we are living in a time-warp, repeating the persecution of artists, poets, writers, and musicians by the leader of Russia.
Shame on Russian citizens for letting the country revert to the bad habits of dictators and cruelty toward intellectuals and people who are brilliant artists.
We are in danger of repeating their mistakes in the US if we are not careful.
Polina is a fine pianist but her youtube videos are plagued by poor audio.
This banning of musicians is a damn shame and unacceptable. But I recall it was widely celebrated here when the shoe was on the other foot and it was Gergiev and Netrebko who were banned for not voicing a sour note against Putin.
By the way, isn’t it ironic that the USA and Russia have swapped positions since the days of the Cuban missile crisis? Putin is JFK and Biden is Khrushchev. Yes, JFK would have invaded Cuba had Khrushchev not removed his missiles, but fortunately he had a reasonable opponent capable of negotiation. Putin was not so lucky with the Biden admin.
The view from the Russian FSB, apparently. Wrong factually and evasive.
This is probably Polina’s best youtube video. Over 6 million views.
https://youtu.be/osg_WmeLxQk?si=xlEcZmnF3X7Pj3vz