Pravda: Russian pianist was ‘terrorised’ in America
mainThe organ of Putin post-truth reports small US demonstrations against Denis Matsuev, the president’s favourite pianist, using Cold War inflammatory language:
The US tour of outstanding Russian pianist Denis Matsuev was marred with attacks from rabid members of anti-Russian Signerbusters group.
The group organized a picket at Carnegie Hall prior to the concert of Denis Matsuev and accused the musician of supporting “Putin’s criminal regime.”
Later, Arts Against Aggression group in Boston organized a Halloween-style installation called “Putin & Matsuev House of Horrors” near the building of a local concert hall.
According to the organizers of the above-mentioned acts, US citizens should ask themselves whether it is appropriate to continue cooperation with the Russian artists, who support the policies of President Vladimir Putin.
Denis Matsuev runs many charitable programs, conducts youth music competitions and festivals for youth and children, such as “Stars on Baikal” and “Crescendo.”
Read on here.
Matsuev’s charitable programs are admirable, but “outstanding pianist”? Certainly he’s right up there with the best of the slash-and-burn keyboard bashers, but his musicianship is on a low level.
They chose a wrong target for their anti-Putin activity. Probably the members of this group never go to classical music concerts and do not know much about marvelous pianist Denis Matsuev.
I agree with La Verita: veritas-D.Matsuev’s a lower level musician. I walked out from his Berkeley recital-his political association not what will take his popularity down.
To Esfir Ross and La Vertia:
Everyone may have personal impression and opinion on musicians.
For inst., the authors of these reviews of Matsuev’s performances have opinions on his musical level different from yours :
http://www.classicalvoice.org/review/nyc/2016/2/10/a-dazzling-evening-with-russian-piano-virtuoso-denis-matsuev
http://seenandheard-international.com/2016/10/a-compelling-recital-from-denis-matsuev-in-wide-ranging-repertoire/
Matsuev, like Gergiev, should keep their mouths shut and not make political comments in support of odious cretins like Putin.
Then they wouldn’t get criticised.
They are musicians – of various standards -and should stick to comments about music.
It is their own fault if they both suffer from verbal Diarrhea.
Is it maybe because they don’t have something to say in music?
Dear Norman, if the quoted article is using “Cold War inflammatory language” (seems quite solid and fair report to me), then how would one qualify the most of the comments here?
There’s nothing quite like the ironically-named “Pravda.”
Given the present circumstances Gergiev and Matsuev can’t have both ways : be a staunch supporter of Poutin and be nicely received in Europe or America. Matsuev has a monstruous pianistic technique but his musicality is poor, like the little chinese doll who plays the fashionweek at every musical appearence.
‘Poutin’ must have an ‘e’ at the end. It is my favorite snack and I will not permit anyone defile it.
Americans accusing others for supporting a criminal regime, oh the irony from the people with the most criminal regime of all. (but with dollar, and doesn’t that change everything 😉 )
Unless and until you prove that any of these “accusing” Americans publicly support those actions of their government that you call “criminal”, your comment does not make any sense — not even on your own terms.
Ironically, it’s true now – well, maybe substitute ‘criminal’ with ‘base’ pending lawsuits. Matsuev is indeed a basher – like the previous Gergiev courtier Alexander Toradze, who actually seems to have got a lot better now he’s out from under the shadow of Putin’s musical lieutenant. What;s worse about what Matsuev has said is that I gather he’s Ukrainian-born.