This is Mikhail Khokhlov conducting sutdents of the Gnessin school in Beethoven’s fifth symphony.
The conductor is emblazoned with the letter Z, signifying support for Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine.
The students do not seem over-enthused.
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Seems he is desperately looking for a new job with some state-run orchestra…. Pathetic.
Well, the regime tries to brainwash the population, as in N-Korea, and that seems to succeed to a great extent: creating a false reality. But experience teaches that it always crashes into the real reality.
So, it is difficult to condemn this conductor, because we don’t know what he could possibly could have known. At best, he is naive and simply believes state news.
He is a seasoned “apparatchik” and anything but naive. He extremely well connected and holds this post for a reason.
Indeed, he’s a Putinista and one of many mediocrities in Russian classical music who have gained prominence (within the parochial Russian set-up) through their installing themselves as Putin bannermen. To appropriate Beethoven’s music to support a junta that has bombed schools, hospitals and apartment buildings demonstrates a spectacular ignorance of Beethoven’s philosophy. At least those outside Russia will now know that Mikhail Khokhlov = war criminal (they will not have heard of him for any other reason, after all) and know not to have anything to do with the Gnessin Academy that is headed by this debased man.
If that is true, away with him.
And, of course, comments for this video are turned off. I hope that youtube, google and the like will consider removing such videos.
Nothing to do with politics, this guy has no technique to conduct Beethoven’s 5th
But the orchestra is playing pretty much well.
My very first reaction too!
Yes, indeed they play well in spite of his obvious shortcomings. And now as a bonus for their extra effort, they are unwitting participants in his propaganda video.
Yep.But not nearly as good as it would have under you ,dear Maestro!
Then all is forgiven.
Is it really them playing? That acoustic seems way too good for the room they’re in. Could be the latest in Russian deep fake technology!
If there is hell he will burn in it
Really s****y conductor.
isn’t a Z just a side-ways N for Nato?
Nice try.
He is the director of the Gnessin School of Music, one of the best music schools there. This is the school where Evgeny Kissin and many other great musicians studied. What a shame.
Perfect evidence of how Putin uses culture to boost the image of his regime and why so many artists should be banned from performing in the West because of their complicity. (There are a ton of photos out there of Khokhlov and Putin together.) And clearly no coincidence that Khokhlov wore a Z for a professionally taped and recorded student rehearsal.
Vile. Nothing more need by said.
He should be fired immediately, for two reasons:
1. Displaying support for Putin’s war.
2. The truly dreadful conducting.
What is the Russian word for “asshole”?
Does it start with a “Z”?
Just a quick comment about this mysterious “Z” which is popping-up in more and more locations: the letter “Z” does not exist in the Cyrillic alphabet, so we’re not exactly sure where it came from or exactly what it means (we can assume allegiance to Putin and/or his war, but I have seen no clear-cut explanation).
And the Russian word for asshole is мудак (pronounced MOO-dach).
Well, he has a nice job with great perks due to….VP. He also seems to have no moral character.
I wouldn’t play with such a conductor. But since Russia is now an autocracy and considers adherents of democracy and free speech “slavish parasites”, I guess I would have to play it to avoid possible fines and jail. But I would play it tastelessly, out of tune, too much vibrato and with lots of wrong notes. And I would play the last movement as a dirge.
Even better, Beethoven would give you brownie points for sure. 😉
Wow!
I was in school at that time when he was.
The popular thing was to play soccer near the school. He was not talented at all but tried to be with people.
Meanwhile, he conducts like he played soccer.
No talent, sad man .
Shame on you Khokhlov.
You should move to Paris and clean Lionel Messi’s shoes. For free.
What a sad sack…..And a lousy conductor to boot….
Forgive my lack of knowledge but is the “Z” symbol used here related in any way to this 1969 movie and the novel it was based on? “The film’s title refers to a popular Greek protest slogan (Greek: Ζει, IPA: [ˈzi]) meaning “he lives,” “
We know Beethoven ‘s reaction on Napoleon: he scratched out his name on the “Eroica” score because in his opinion Napoleon would turn out as “one of these who kick human rights with his feet.” Can you imagine how furious he is now on his cloud watching a video like that…?
That is a suspiciously good acoustic for such a room. Is that really them playing or is this just more Russian disinformation?
If the cold war was fought with classical youth orchestras, Russia would besiege the US easily. Good playing by the youngsters!
What a shame that country of such great traditions in the classical arts is most of the time ruled by thugs, notable exception having been Gorbachev. Why is that?
Norman, Can you explain why you removed this video or was it removed by someone else and your link was cut?