Editorial: Violin winner should have shaken hands
NewsA storm is still raging over the refusal of the Queen Elisabeth Competition winner, the Ukrainian violinist Dmytro Udovychenko, to shake the hand of one of the judges, the Russian violinist Vadim Repin.
Udovychenko, 24, is acutely aware that his parents are under Russian bombardment in Kharkiv.
Repin and his dancer wife are supporters and beneficiaries of Vladimir Putin.
On the face of it, the contestant has every right to make a protest.
However, over the previous weeks, Udovychenko was content to have his performances judged by a panel that included Repin. When the result was announced he was happy to accept the prize, with Repin’s involvement. It is only a matter of courtesy to thank those who have elevated you above the rest of the pack.
Not to do so is not just rude. It diminishes the humanity of the musical event.
He had every right to refuse to shake the hand of a supporter of the degenerate Putin. I fully support his decision [redacted].
As pointed out in the Editorial, the protest came somewhat late, and in a form that probably does no favours to the Ukrainian cause.
Then again, like states, like citizens.
Professor Jeffrey Sachs has pointed out that unlike during the Cold War, the presidents of the biggest nuclear powers, US and Russia, are not talking to each other and shaking hands.
That doesn`t make the news, because it doesn`t fit the narrative.
“Glory to Ukraine!”= 500 000 dead Ukrainians and counting.
I think it’s 500000 dead Ruzzians….. And yes lots of dead Ukrainians. It’s the Ruzzians making the meat grinder assaults that have led to bigger numbers.
But, we digress, that kid has every right to not shake Putins biatch’s hand.
According to US intelligence, the ratio of Ukrainian to Russian casualties is 7:1. Yet music must be divorced from politics.
He had no right for any political demarches at the musical competition. Never mix up music with politics, that’s weird
In addition to facing the destruction of his homeland, he is required either to forgo the opportunities necessary to his professional advancement or to be nice (rather than merely respectful) to someone who supports that destruction?
Vadim Repin does not support any violence.
It is the competition organizers that should be questioned for inviting Repin to serve on the Jury, not any handling of the situation from Dmytro.
This is the main question!!! How come Repin ( good violinist, former 1st winner etc) Putin’s supporter , could be invited to such event?
If Udovichenko has decided to take part in the competition, he must respect the decision of Queen Mathilde who approved the invitation of Mr. Repin as member of the jury.
Repin was only part of the jury in the finals, which means Dmytro didn’t “accept Repin’s judgment over the previous weeks” – the only thint he accepted was to perform in front of him for one hour.
You say in your editorial that Repin is a ‘supporter’ and ‘benificiary’ of Putin. If that’s true, then a Ukranian violinist is well within his rights not to shake his hand. The part about him being ‘happy’ to take part in the competition where Repin is a judge (who says he was ‘happy’? He can’t handpick the judges) is such logically fallacious twaddle that it’s beyong laughable.
No, but he can pick the competitions he chooses to enter? Duhhhh.
So the only logically fallacious twaddle that’s beyond laughable here is from you, actually.
This isn’t the mic drop you think it is, as demonstrated by the fact that no-one agrees with it. In reality, in today’s world, if people were to only enter competitions where they approve of all the judges, there wouldn’t be much going on. And to win the competition and then take a stand has far more effect than not entering.
Well in that case, if there isn’t much going on, then fine. There are other ways outside of the competition circus to make careers. Of course, only those who are the most imaginative, creative and artistic musicians will succeed that way.
What he did was a petty move, biting the hand that feeds him, as it were.
Better still – remove all these politics from competitions. If he had something real to say musically, then he wouldn’t need to stoop down to this virtue signalling sentiment for the sake of media attention.
I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again. Music is music; politics is politics. Always has been. Always will be. The end.
Why do you think there are international competitions? It is ALL politics.
What? International does not equal political!
If you look under the dictionary definitions of each of these words, the other word does not appear.
Fundamentally, here it’s music. Only music.
The stupidity of thinking music and politics are inexorably linked is downright impressive. And shows such a profound lack of education on the entire history of music that one marvels you’re on this site at all.
Skin put it best:
‘Yes it’s F*****g political,
Everything’s Political,
Yes it’s F*****g satirical, Everything’s SATIRICAL!!!
(Head banging guitar solo goes here)!!!
He had plenty to say musically. That’s how he won.
Wow! What an extraordinary intellect!
Where to start?
Are you saying that Repin’s hand is feeding Ukrainian violinists?
Your statement that he is stooping down to virtue signalling sentiment is just plain pathetic. I’d like to see how you would react if it were your country being destroyed?
Maybe you would have made a trip to Berlin to play for Hitler? After all, those stupid allies lost more than 500,000 fighters, because they thought Adolf shouldn’t just have his way.
And lastly, you can say as often as you like “Politics is politics”.
If you were even slightly observant (as you call yourself,) you would know that the attempted genocide perpetrated by Russia has nothing to do with politics.
PS: As many have already asked, why is someone like Repin on the jury of a major competition? That is the source, the only source of the problem.
‘Music is music; politics is politics’
It never has been, it never will be….unfortunately!
Music, art generally, are allways the easiest subject for political abuse.
Cannot agree more.
What, precisely, is “logically fallacious” about it? Logical fallacies often have names. What’s the name of the one you think is exemplified here?
If you didn’t understand it originally Paul, me making up a name for it isn’t going to help you.
You don’t need to make up a name for it. Just tell us what the logical fallacy is. But perhaps first you need to demonstrate you know what a logical fallacy is.
Could we keep petty squabbling to the school playground please … Thanks!
I believe what you meant to say, though I’m sure it was just a typo, was that the fallacies committed in this SlippedDisc statement include the fallacy of equivocation in the usage of the word “happy,” the fallacy of “Ignoratio Elenchii” in the irrelevance of participation as pertaining to personal beliefs, the circumstantial form for the fallacy of “Argumentum ad Hominem” due to the winner’s participation in the competition, the fallacy of accident due to both of the relevant parties’ non-negligible personal involvement in this political matter, and, arguably, a whiff of the fallacies of denying the antecedent and the fallacy of the straw man.
Perhaps you ought to reserve your mentions of basic logical concepts to situations where you have enough aptitude to communicate them, even if the arguments you make could be both sound and valid coming from a less maladroit source. Kindly refrain from publicly undermining the perfectly reputable art of logic with your blundering; after all, fallacies are anything but made up names, as any self-respecting introductory logic student could tell you.
You seem to think I said that fallacies are just made-up names. I said nothing of the sort.
You accuse me of “publicly undermining the perfectly reputable art of logic”. On the contrary, I sought to uphold it against what looked suspiciously like the use of “logically fallacious” in a post without there being any logical fallacy in what was being referred to. “Logical fallacy” isn’t an all-purpose slag-off word to slap onto people you dislike or disagree with. It refers to something rather specific, and Andy didn’t enlighten us as to what the fallacy in the case was.
I see you have heard of some fallacies. Jolly good. I used to teach about fallacies at a reputable university. The point is, no-one has yet managed to explain what is the logical fallacy which Andy had in mind when he made his accusation of logical fallacy. Maybe you could have a try!
Indeed, Paul, as I was replying to Andy in my previous post. I’m quite glad we agree that Andy’s use of the term “logical fallacy” is questionable at best, and I can assure you that my accusations of “public undermining” were made in that light. (I do indeed find it aggravating that Andy has so trivialized these rational and objective components of logic.) I am sorry that you would think such a comment was directed at you, as we are evidently both curious to know exactly what logical fallacy Andy was referring to. It’s really a shame that we still don’t know. Although I can’t read minds, I’d like to think the fallacies Andy was – ostensibly – referring to coincide at least partly with the ones I suggested. As it appears that Andy will leave our curiosity unfulfilled, shall we agree on the fallacy of equivocation and leave it at that? After all, participation in a competition whose jury one has no influence on does not imply “happiness” with the political beliefs of member of said jury; however, a handshake may indeed have seemed to the competitor to indicate at least a semblance of such congruence of political beliefs. Two rather inconsistent takes on the issue of happiness, one concerning capitulation in a seemingly remote institutional setting, and the other involving personal acknowledgment. The very definition of equivocation. Would you agree, as a former teacher of logic? I’d love to hear your thoughts on the relevance of ignoratio elenchii, ad hominem, and accident.
Ah, I thought your earlier comment was addressed to me. Apologies.
I wouldn’t have thought inconsistent *behaviour* constitued a logical fallacy. I should have thought the fallacy of equivocation involved using a key term with two different meanings in the same piece of reasoning: “Your notice says students get 10% off the bill in this cafe; well, I am a student of life; so I am entitled to 10% off.”
Thanks for the example, Paul – that makes perfect sense. I can tell you are a teacher!
In that case, the only fallacies I can think of that apply to this “he was content to participate” statement are relevant only because of the phrasing – for example, if one were truly desperate to argue that this construes accident, it could be said that both the competitor’s and the judge’s highly personal involvement in the political situation warrant a personal act of protest even in the absence of a more general one such as pulling out of the competition. However, this is not enough of an egregious fallacy to label it as “laughable twaddle”, as Andy did. I think the learning experience from all this is to abstain from attacking arguments as fallacious in a non-academic context, although the principles behind the fallacies themselves can be utilized in conversational language to great effect, even in the absence of their formal nomenclature.
So we can eliminate Ukrainians from any competition by just including a suitable Russian judge?
Nice try.
As puerile as it is petty …
Repin’s almost entire career evolved in Europe and North America. How can he a beneficiary of Putin? This is complete bonkers
Just no, Norman
40 years ago, in a similar context, I said to a girlfriend who accused me of taking the wrong side of a dispute, “I’m not taking his side or yours. I can see both sides of the argument.”
“What do you mean – “you can see BOTH sides’? There aren’t TWO sides of the argument to see!”
Somehow, this story brought that incident back to mind.
Prize won life destroyed?
Totally correct, Dmytro. Bravo!
Absolutely agree with you here, Norman. 100%.
This violinist demonstrated nothing but hypocrisy, and pettiness. Two traits that will never bear well for a wannabe soloist’s career.
The audacity to try and virtue signal like this is preposterous. His career will now be known as the violinist who was rude enough to not shake a jury’s hand, not as a winner.
Plenty of other equally good violinists out there who deserve a career, who don’t have such arrogant personalities. What a silly way to falter at the starting line. Give the concerts to the 2nd prize winner instead!
Mr Putin thanks you for your loyalty.
Thanks for proving you’re the useful idiot. And not just grammatically.
Shame your brain is not able to comprehend one of life’s basic principles:
Music is music; politics is politics. Always has been. Always will be. The end.
So, let me get this straight: Repin is allowed to demonstrate his politics (by publicly associating with Putin) but Udovychenko is not (by bowing rather than taking the hand of a man who openly supports the leader whose rule has seen his home smashed to smithereens)?
Irrelevant. This is obviously not a summit attended by politicians. It’s first and foremost a music competition.
That’s what it’s about. And ONLY about. And should be about.
No whataboutism. No buts. Just music. And only music.
Thank you.
And Udovytchenko is allowed to publicly support Ukraine. His refusal was petty.
Nice try.
You are in the wrong. He has shown himself to be a man of principle!
Unlike people with leisure to post on here, the lad may be too busy on violin practice to have worked out a wholly consistent position in such a bewildering situation.
Your introductory clause was unnecessary. Many of us walk and chew gum at the same time, with equal ability.
That said, I agree with your assessment.
Many true or good things are unnecessary.
As “AA” above stated” Repin was only part of the jury in the finals, which means Dmytro didn’t “accept Repin’s judgment over the previous weeks”
So, maybe he didn’t even know who was in the final round judging?
Competitors’re informed before who judge in finals. No secret or surprise. Lately Ukrainian competitors get advance to finals or win the competitions as political gesture. And later their career stuck.
He will now be known as a man of principle !
At best you do not understand the situation. At worst you are a putler apologist.
For what it’s worth I happen to agree with you.
His country is being bombed by the judges handler. It’s not virtue signaling to not want to shake his hand you shill.
Yet another apologist for the current Russian regime?! Fortunately you are small in number but grotesque in terms of sheer pettiness and vindictiveness! The way of the far right …
OMG! Now Udovychenko does not get gigs in Russia? Or… maybe… who knows… when Russia is liberated from Putin he gets more gigs?
‘His career will now be known as the violinist who was rude enough to not shake a jury’s hand, not as a winner’
Time will learn…..
Appears we have circled around back to this nonsense. I too think all Russians are the same and should be rounded up in camps like those sneaky japs in ww2, right lads?
Can you blame Ukrainians now if that’s what THEY think?
While the WW2 lasted, the Russians would word their enemy as: the Germans. It took many peaceful years to move away from that wording, to learn to accent that the Germans are a nation and the war was against the German Nazis.
Your take is one way to look at it. I think Udovychenko got it exactly right. His refusal to shake Repin’s hand not only doesn’t diminish the humanity of the event, it accentuates it.
I fully agree….
Not to mention that he won mostly because of his nationality.
Listened to all the Shostakovich’s again side by side and his was the least appealing by far.
Even in the previous 2 rounds, if you close your eyes, you can only hear a mediocre student at best.
Of course, music is subjective but he was lacking in every field. No technical proficiency and even less musicality.
It is disingenuous to hide political bias behind artistic comment.
Agree! Surprised he even made it to the finals when there were other strong players.
I very much disagree. Both Kevin Zhu and Udovychenko stood out in the semifinals. Udovychenko played Schnittke with a lot of character. His Shostakovich came from the bottom of his heart, with a clear message.
For me, both Udovychenko and Zhu are very fine artists. As well as a lot of the other violinists, the level was extremely high.
I live in Belgium. Followed every day of the Competition. Talked to jury members (not Repin) and organizers. Read the press. Will go to the award ceremony tomorrow. There is no storm here, much as you try to create one. The weather is pretty bad though.
Hope very much, that you are right. Would be such a shame if Putin managed to destroy both most prestigious violin competitions.
Putin didn’t destroyed competition, but Udovichenko did.
Putin destroyes everything!
Just a question: What makes a violin competition prestigious? If there was a Gdansk violin competition with the same competitors, jury and same or better prices, why would it not be equally prestigious? Just because the other one has been arranged for a long time?
I most times agree with you, but, boy, are you on the wrong side of history on this one.
What if this scenario had been 80 years earlier with a Nazi judge?
Mr. Udovychenko should be lauded for his courage, not questioned. Hardly “rude” when the very lives of his parents are in mortal danger.
Shame.
‘Tuis awfully fashionable for people to try to justify themselves by claiming they’re on the right side of history, but, you know, history doesn’t have a side. It isn’t a person, it doesn’t one day wake up and think, “I know–I’ll swing events in favour of X”. Nothing that history does can be guaranteed to be right.
Such a lot of believers that history has aims and goals and that they’re good and right goals! No, history just one-damn’-thing-after-another, as people respond to situations.
He didn’t turn his back; he didn’t spit on him. He did what is conscious demanded, to politely decline. If the artists of the world are not leading with their consciouses, who else can be asked to?
I’m shocked by your assessment, Norman. We all, each in our way, with our limited influence, can attempt to affect change in the face of injustice and inhumanity. He bowed rather than shake the hand of someone who, for all intents and purposes, supports the destruction of his people. This was as mild a protest as I’ve ever seen, and one we should support.
Putin is murderous scum and anyone who supports him is not deserving of respect !
If he wanted to protest…than don’t compete!!
He has an equal rite to compete just as his family has the rite not to be bombed, raped and murdered by Putler ! Learn what is most important in life.
Doesn’t Repin live outside of Russia? If so, his support of Putin is even more odious. He would not face the personal and professional consequences that might frighten a Russian resident into complicity with the Putin regime.
In the video you can see that he bows his head to Repin, that should be understood as a sufficient sign of respect. Shaking hands in this case shows the world more about Repin than about the winner. I wonder why Repin, if he is such a supporter of Putin, gets invited to such a jury, the lack of humanity you claim is exactly that, not the winners behaviour.
Worst first prize winner ever! HE CAN NOT PLAY. Period!!! Shaking hands or not is his problem. He just can not play and too many people agree with this. Go back and listen to all the recordings. Top 3 players were placed on the bottom 4th, 5th and 6th. SHAME!
Political bias pure and simple.
Really? Or are you just carried away by your partisanship?
Yes, Mr. Trump, it is a rigged competition. All of the judges are compromised.
I could not find another comment here not liking his performance. Where are these “too many people” you mention?
Supporting a murderous dictator and benefiting of him is also rude to say the least. The awardee apparently bowed to Mr Repin, acknowledging him and thanking him this way.
I don’t see why he should have shaken hands. I think he showed moral fibre by not doing so…and i think that he should not have been put in that position in the first place. Why on earth are Russian sympathisers of Putin being allowed to judge?!! ..surely there are other non russian non Putin-sympathising violinists out there?!
I think what he did not understand is, that the QE Competition and Brussels‘ musicians have built a culture of overcoming poltitical conflicts by respecting each other as musicians, especially with so many of them having family in their respective home countries, everybody knowing that there is so much, which cannot be said in the open whithout putting your beloved into danger and everybody understanding that they themselves can be in the same position next. So maybe putting music over politics sometimes is not naive but a real victory of humanity, like Daniel Barenboim‘s West Eastern Divan Orchestra, which I cannot stop to admire. Taking this into consideration refusing to shake hands maybe was felt inappropriate and hurtful by musicians who have learned to put their personal feelings back for decades in the pursuit of music.
Repin was always apolitical
Bullshit. Anyone in your family been murdered by the Russians, their homes under constant threat of bombardment? I think not, so keep your comments to yourself.
Who are you to tell anyone commenting here ‘not to comment’? How Putinesque!
His ability to play the violin so well and beautifully was recognized as it should be.
His choice not to shake hands will a Putin supporter was not only appropriate, but was a good thing to draw attention to someone that probably should not have been there.
…well Norman, after having seen the video, my first thought was ‘that’s not cricket…’. But leaning back in our chesterfields, it might be so easy to judge and dispise somebody’s behaviour in a particular situation. Specially in a rather tense atmosphere, too.
So I would rather say, ‘tout savoir, c’est tout comprendre – et tout pardonner quand même…’.
He’s making a very public statement as is his right so to do. Meanwhile his country is systematically being reduced to rubble by a man Repin (and his wife) support.
No he doesn’t, John. This is a music competition. Not a political summit.
He had no right to behave like that. It’s simply bad manners. If he doesn’t like the jury, then he shouldn’t have taken part.
People need to leave music alone, and stop shoving politics into every musical orifice.
I fully understand he refuses the hand of somebody from a country attacking his home country, and who is not being publicly against the war. You can’t expect from Udovychenko to stop participating in such an important competition that only takes place every four years – this was his last chance.
Besides that, he bowed politely to Repin, as a real gentleman.
Feelings understandably run
very high. Would I blame a Jewish person for not shaking Hitler’s hand?
For all that, politics and protests divide. The arts should surely not divide.
The correct comparison is whether you would shake the hand of a German citizen during WWII.
These comparisons to Hitler are ridiculous.
There is a reason why Isaac Stern would not play in Germany.
Vadim Repin is not Hitler!
He is a musician.
He has nothing to do with the choices of the country he was born.
Nationality is not enough to blame a person.
Music is to create bridges.
And btw Repin is also Belgian
Better for him to watch the destruction of his homeland AND deny himself an enormous career opportunity? What point would be made? No one would know! Instead, he’s proven his prowess and keeps this important conversation alive. Good for him!
He could have bitten off the judge’s hand or smeared dog waste all over his face. Refusing to shake is quite civilized by comparison.
The Putin supporter should not have been on the jury. I fully support the winner’s action.
I suggest watching all the rounds that Kevin Zhu played on the competition website. His Bartók Solo Sonata is groundbreaking as is his Mozart 4. His Shostakovich cto. not only nailed the pathos in this work, but was simply on a different level of execution than the other 3 candidates who did the same concerto. Along with Thierry Escaich’s compulsory finals’ piece, his playing brought the best playing out of the orchestra among all 12 finalists, for pretty obvious reasons.
In the short term, the lack of recognition by QEC hurts Kevin because it denies him direct access to premier bookings. But it also reduces the competition’s credibility and prestige.
Kevin’s peerless playing, easily accessible online, is celebrated among violinists and will remain a very special gift to audiences everywhere. Hopefully concert promoters understand what audiences actually care for.
In the age of live streaming, these politically motivated competition results will cause silly distractions for the moment and just remain as embarrassing missteps that they are.
As for handshake-gate, good luck to the violinist from Ukraine.
P.S. To understand why so many are in disbelief at the results of QEC 2024, watch Kevin Zhu play “Il Cannone” in Genoa and also one of his recitals featuring the 24 Caprices. Finally, someone with enough technique and intelligence to show that Niccolò was a actually a pretty outstanding composer!
I don’t agree that the result was politically motivated. The thing is, it sounds quite different in the hall. I understood that Zhu’s tone was a bit harsher in the finals. The TV panel was also very convinced about the first three prize winners.
I think Zhu will have a great career; I had hoped he or Udovychenko would take first place. But I also believe in the integrity of the jury members, and in the end, both are fantastic musicians. The level of this year’s competition was exceptionally high.
It’s worth noting that many non-first prize winners have great careers. For instance, Lucas Debargue placed fourth in the Tchaikovsky competition but his career skyrocketed afterward.
I could care less who he wants to shake hands with my issue is that he didn’t deserve 1st place because of his playing was not up to the level as almost every other finalist. All of his rounds were not good. He has serious issues with intonation and tone quality. His mozart was just awful his ysaye even worse his paganini caprices were sloppy out of tune and an overall mess. Musically he said nothing worthwhile unlike many of the other finalists who had very unique interpretations. I just can’t help but feel like he only won 1st prize because he’s white and Ukrainian. I could’ve literally seen anyone else win 1st prize except him. Out of 3 of the finalists who played shostakovich I thought he played the worst. So much biased judging and this competition is known for corruption and back door deals.
And some of us felt Dmytro only won because he was Ukrainian.
After reading the comments, I have to say most have no idea what’s going on with the conflict between Russia and Ukraine or the predicates that brought it on.
I would agree, were it not for the fact that Repin and his wife are known supporters of Putin, which changes everything. How can you reasonably expect Udovichenko to overlook this when Putin is vanquishing his homeland? Arts and politics don’t make a comfortable mix, but there are times when it is unavoidable.
Repin is not supporting politics . Never in his life he was into politics
Could we hear an opposing point of view?
First, I find it extremely odd when people claim that art is art and politics are politics. Even rudimentary knowledge of history shows us that art and politics have been deeply intertwined since the beginning of civilization.
Second, why should this violinist be punished for participating in an international competition and winning an award, and why is there any hypocrisy involved? As far as I can tell, this was not the Vadim Repin Violin Competition, correct? The violinist had every right to enter and perform. The organizers who made the immoral decision to include a despot fanboy Repin on the jury are the ones to blame. The violinist was polite. And his very small gesture of protest was quite professional and entirely understandable.
Vadim Repin is half Belgian. He has Belgian nationality.
Vadim Repin is and was always very far from politics.
Vadim Repin is supporter of the values of peace. That is why he donated his fee of his concert at La Scala in Milan, back in 2022 , to the “fund for peace and brotherhood between people”. And not only. That’s the values he believes in.
He does not need to publicise that.
Vadim Repin has ukrainian dear friends, exactly as russians or europeans or americans.
He would have never refused to shake hands.
By voting for an ukrainian violinist, he did not look at the nationality, but only at his talent. Music is not a matter of nationality.
Vadim Repin is an outstanding musician and outstanding human being, and very humble personality. Music has nothing to do with politics. Music is a bridge between cultures, is a dialogue. Music is above nationalities.
Musicians should shake hands as a sign of dialogue , and give an EXAMPLE. To see the contrary is very sad.
The winner has chosen no to shake hands to a Russian-Belgian apolitic colleague solely based on his nationality, but on the contrary he has chosen to play a VC from a Russian Composer , Shostakovic.
Meh, Vadim Repin still plays at the Novosibirsk trans-siberian festival, appraised by Putin. He could take more distance publicly from the Russian administration, like other Russians do, e.g. Sitkovetsky who was also in the jury .
‘Music has nothing to do with politics.’
That’s wishfull thinking and quite a naïve perception.
Music and musicians can (!) have everything to do with politics.
By not shaking hands, the winner turned a musical worldclass event into a political event..the attention should stay on music. Not on nationalities of the jury members. A musician cannot be judged or sanctioned or misrespected based on his nationality. The choices and politics of a country should not be mixed with art, with music.
I support the right to NOT shake hands. It is rude and diminishes the humanity of Ukraine to be invaded.
I see your point, but I respectfully disagree. Just because a performer performs or a competitor competes does not mean that they are “content” to do so. There have been some performances where I wish I could have worn a bag over my head, but I had to do it because the job required it. Although I understand your perspective that one should be gracious towards a person who played a role in your success, I think it would be equally valid to say that he did everything he could to win including playing for an enemy to send a more meaningful message.
There are no” enemies “ in music
You ask for humanity from Udovychenko. It’s understandable that he may not be able to shake the hand of someone who represents the destruction of his country. That’s quite human.
All Soviet artists are beneficiaries of Putin. The arts are state supported. Why keep making this statement as if it has any political meaning?
I completely disagree. If Repin is a surporter of Putin, he deserves every repudiation he recieves. Life and death is bigger than “courtesy.” Udovychenko is living Putin’s horror.
Nobody invited a supporter of..
Repin was never into politics. He is known for being apolitical. All his life. He never supported one or another
I generally hate shaking other peoples’ hands. Such an easy way to catch a cold or Covid or whatever. I take any opportunity to avoid shaking someone else’s hand if I can. The real question to ask is: Was he grateful to the committee for voting him the winner, or was he arrogant? Showing gratitude for the outcome should be more than sufficient. Insisting that one person touch another person’s body is silly.
The organisers of this Belgian Concours may have thought it was a smart move to insert judge Repin (unrepentant friend of Putin) and to effect a political dilemma by promoting a Ukrainian winner. Nobody should be surprised by the withdrawal of the cultural gesture of the handshake……that is no crime, though the public image of the comfortably affable Mr Repin may have been shaken (but not necessarily stirred)
Why they should not have invited Mr. Repin? Of course they invited him , being Belgian, being the youngest ever winner of the competition, being one of the greatest living musicians .. and being very far from politics all his life. Friend???
Who invites musicians know better if they have the integrity to be invited or not.
Musicians that live in Russia cannot be punished only because they do not publicly express opinions . This is not the way to go.
The people of Ukraine are slaughtered without any justification..A disaster for European civilization.
It is a disaster. But most of musicians, tennis players, performers.. have nothing to do with this. It is not their fault. Their silence , if they live , in Russia is not a fault or means being supportive of..
No. He acted properly.
If he had shaked those hands, it would have been the picture of him doing so, that would be forever binded to him in HIS HOME COUNTRY. What would you demand the guy to be? Many already famous Russians had the choice and had made it, this way or another. But i feel the young Udovichenko had none at all.
Not right behavior.
Music and politics should not be mixed.
Also he was not the strongest finalists.
Many opinions in internet , some says he is rude, some thinks he is right, , creating divisions…which is not the true purpose of Art.
Musicians cannot be blamed for war…
If Mr Repin is criminal he wouldn’t have been invited.
Queen Elisabeth policy says sharing music beyond nationality and politics.
“If only art could be an instrument of peace” was I think queen Elisabeth of Belgian word whom started this competition with Ysaÿe.
Nonsense. I know Vadim Repin and he is an absolute shit.
We are not here to heavily insult people or to make wars or generate more hate , moreover against persons like Mr Repin, whose values are peace, respect and dialogue between cultures.
If you would know Mr Repin, as you say, you would know that he is an outstanding person, generous , humble and discrete. And very far from politics.
But since you gave your truth, saying you know him and “ he is absolute shit”, please you should also explain why , because what you say is very heavy.
Some comments here are not based on facts, or are just quick judgements often misleading. And are very far from music.
FACTS: back in 2022 Mr Repin played a concert at La Scala donating his fee to the fund for Peace.. and guess where the funds went.. to victims of war.
Many of his dear friends are ukrainians.
And it is a fact that Mr Repin never was into politics , never gave public comments nor before nor after…and never politically supported anyone… he was always far from politics.
Fact: he voted for an ukrainian violinist at the QE Competition, and he genuinely wanted to shake his hand as a sign of dialogue .Because music is dialogue and beauty. Nothing to do with nationality.
Mr Repin is both Russian AND BELGIAN.
Vadim Repin is indeed an outstanding musician, a very generous and humble person.
Who invites mr Repin knows exactly his integrity and what an extraordinary person he is, on top of being one of the greatest living musicians.
His job is being a musician , and that’ s the reason he is invited : not as a politician.
Why musicians should therefore give public statements in order to work? And why their silence , is automatically seen as being supporter of? Silent before, and silent now.
Mr Repin doesn’t live in Europe.. he lives in Russia recently..and obviously he is not giving comments. Is it so difficult to understand?
He was silent all his life on politics.. why should he be obliged to talk now in order to work?
Some musicians are indeed involved in politics.. supporters of one or another . Not Mr Repin.
What he has achieved in life was only through extremely hard work , discipline, efforts… without shortcuts.. coming from a very humble family. He is one of the most honest and straight persons you can meet.
The winner was indeed free to decide or not to shake hands.
But bewteen colleagues, between musicians, it would have been beautiful and a great example of peace to shake hands.
Imagine now: instead of writing that mr repin is shit or that the winner made a mistake.. the comments would be “ Belgian Russian worldrenowed musician votes for ukrainian colleague at world renowed music competition”. With the photo of them smiling and shaking hands. Don’t you think it would have been better? To talk of music instead of all this?
This is very sad. would be nice if both of them would be able to meet again and shake hands. That would be an example. Or even play a concert together. That is the meaning of music. That is the power of music. Dialogue. Universality. And not all what you are mentioning here.
One might remember, if of a certain generation, the great violinist and humanitarian Isaac Stern speaking about why he chose never to perform in post-WW2 Germany. He said he hoped many younger Jews would do so in the future, but he could not. He had lived through Hitler’s time. And Mr. Udovychenko and his family are Still living through such a time. Would it have been “nice” if he “shook hands”? Maybe… but at what personal cost? He had every right to choose as he did. He is much less likely to regret that choice than if he had been “friendly”. There will be time for that later. And one sincerely hopes that later will come soon.
He chose to enter the prestigious competition, Mr. Lebrecht, but did not have a voice in choosing the judges!
Speaking about rudeness and courtesy….Wake up! Russia is killing people in Ukraine….
The presence of a supporter of Russia’s criminal regime diminishes the humanity of the event. Of course Udovichenko can’t shake hands with such a person.
Having written this: it gives the QEC a questionable legitemacy….
Vadim Repin , Belgian/Russian musician, is NOT supporting any politics. He never did in his life. He is very far from politics. It is nonsense to ban people from working because their country is making a war or because they keep being silent if they live in Russia.
You judge too quickly.
Judgements must be made on facts.
Facts are that he is apolitical, that he is a great musician and person, that he donated his fee at La Scala to the fund for peace and dialogue between cultures in 2022( that went to victims of war) , that he was happy to vote for ukrainian violinist at the. competition, that some of his dear friends are ukrainians , etc etc..
Those are facts and reality.
He is a wonderful musician. He is not a politician.
Perhaps all that is true.
And surely a young man has the right – possibly risking harm to his own professional future – to bring attention to this continuing genocide in one of the most compelling ways he could, and arguably at the most prominent time.
… “… have elevated you…”
Udovychenko elevated himself.
An unbridled “Bravo” to this superb musician and competitor.