Western agents rush to join Russia jury
OperaThe Elena Obraztsova (pictured) International Singing Competition of Opera Singers, to be held in St. Petersburg from July 21 to 27, has named part of its jury.
Valery Gergiev’s sister, Larisa Gergieva, is the first to be named. She runs Gergiev young singers programme at the Mariinsky.
Others named are:
Alessandro Ariosi, Ariosi Management, Switzerland
Teddy Gerstel, Gerstel International Opera Management, Switzerland
Tamas Bator, Artistic Advisor of the Hungarian State Opera, Hungary
Alessandro Di Gloria, casting manager of Teatro Massimo in Palermo, Italy
Hats off to these brave people! I am sure each and every one of them will be both sanctioned by the USA Treasury and DoS, and cancelled by woke culture activists.
Which would be a fully justified reward for their “bravery”.
Obraztsova herself was very brave, comrade — especially at denouncing colleagues, teachers, and friends.
In my younger days I recall Elena Obraztsova as a horrible soprano and butt of many opera jokes.
Of course, all of sudden all the Russian artists are “horrible”
Oh, yes, yes!!
According to Ariosi’s website, Chiara Muti is on the Ariosi Management artist roster!
https://www.ariosimanagement.com/roster
Far from criticizing anybody, we’d like to highlight some interesting connections. Chiara’s father – the Ezelente Maestro Riccardo Muti – is a proud recipient of Putin’s award ‘The Russia Order of Friendship’ ; and a honorary member of the Russian Academy for the Arts presided by the Zurab Tsereteli – a sculptor known to make beautiful Putin statues. Muti selected the Great Putin Bass Abdrazakov to sing at the Verdi Gala in Ravenna a couple of months ago – which ended the Festival in glory. In a quite recent past, Muti also allowed Gergiev to conduct his shiny toy – the Cherubini Orchestra, at the Ravenna Festival.
According to Slippedisc (https://slippedisc.com/2023/12/alagna-defends-gerard-depardieu/ ), Chiara Muti is among the artists defending Gerard Depardieu. Quoting from SD: “Depardieu, 74, has been accused by several women of sexual assault. He is a staunch supporter of Vladimir Putin and has been granted a Russian passport” (more interesting Russian connections or just coincidences??)
The Teatro Massimo in Palermo (mentioned in this post) recently hired Muti to conduct a Don Giovanni – a production which fed controversy, according to this Daily Mail article: “Palermo’s hotels, theatre and opera house are booked out for Japanese businessman’s four-day event that’s angered locals”
(https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12706333/Birthday-boy-billionaire-buys-Sicilian-city-ultimate-party-1-400-closest-friends-Palermos-hotels-theatre-opera-house-booked-Japanese-businessmans-three-day-event-thats-angered-locals.html).
The Japanese billionaire – the article says – “entertained [his guests] with a performance of Don Giovanni conducted by the acclaimed Riccardo Muti, who is said to be a close friend of the birthday boy”
(Note: Riccardo Muti gets very angry when people say he’s an entertainer)
Placido Domingo – a man who allegedly spoke on the phone with sex traffickers, and who allegedly committed sexual harassment- is also mentioned on the Artosi roster page in the category “Special Collaboration” (how special, we don’t quite know). Placido Domingo and his Operalia were very close to Russia.
We don’t criticize anyone, we let the readers come up with their own thoughts!
Oh Muti is definitely not an “entertainer”. He told an interviewer in his first season in Philadelphia he opened the newspapers to read the concert review and was FURIOUS to find the review in the ENTERTAINMENT section.
Right. Then why does he entertain japanese billionaires’ bday parties?
My educated guess is the said Japanese businessman was also a serious music connoisseur and audiophile. Keep in mind classical music in Japan is held in higher respect and reverence than in the West.
Soldi, caro – soldi!!!