Berlin Philharmonic chief gives 100,000 to Ukraine relief
NewsThe Russian-born Kirill Petrenko has made a lead donation of 100,000 Euros to launch a campaign for Ukraine relief at the Baden-Baden Easter Festival. ‘The festival will be overshadowed by the terrible war. People need all possible support from us,’ he told a press conference.
He warned, however, against an indiscriminate boycott of Russian artists. ‘If people are being punished for Putin’s atrocities simply because of their nationality, then we are like the other side… You can see from all around that Russian works have been discontinued. Russian artists are repeatedly boycotted and locked out. I don’t think that’s right,’ he said.
Big fan of Petrenko, not just a fine Director but also a genuinely thoughtful man with serious values. Pity there’s no-one in Vienna taking a similar lead…
You’re absolutely right Gareth. I’m a big fan too and the humanity one sees on the podium is clearly deep rooted in him.
The point of sanctions is to economically punish the Russian people so to put pressure on Putin to stop killing the Ukrainian people.
And that means boycotting Russian artists.
If the Russian people aren’t impacted adversely by the war, then Putin has little reason to reverse course.
This is the largest and deadliest land war in Europe since WW2. People need to stop acting like it’s a little skirmish and they can keep going about their lives as normal.
You are confusing sanctions with targeting individual artists of Russian nationality with no political connection to Putin and who were not involved with state organisations when the invasion began.
He is right. Boycott Artists that do not distance themselves from the regime (AN, VG etc.) but help those that speak our. Ignore those that do not voice any opinion if living outside Russia.
Great musician, great man.
Unfairly criticized for not talking. Now he talked, not platitudes, but deep, ethical, timely thoughts. And he put his money where his mouth is.
What about Currentzis, who is playing all over Europe and is being sponsored by Russian bank?…. 🙁 No statment done of course…
Please don’t compare the great Kiril Petrenko with the showmanship of Currentzis!
Kiril definitely the most exciting since Kleiber and the unbearable hype around Currentzis is aggravating like the one around Anna Netrebko though I find Currentzis can be fascinating depending on the repertoire!
Anna – let’s be honest – is very good but nothing more and an awful personality
I am not comparing. I am wondering why some artist are being banned as Gergiev, and some are giving concerts in Russia and in Europe at the same time, even being sponsored by Russian bank… Such a big uproar around Gergiev and Netrebko and complete silence about Currentzis. Does not sound fair, or? And respect to Petrenko of course.
Gergiev hat AKTIV z.B. per Unterschrift Putins Anti-Schwulen-Politik unterstützt, ein Konzert im “eroberten” Syrien gegeben, die Besetzung der Krim gutgeheißen usw. Currentzis hat in Russland studiert und ist dort aus Nostalgie geblieben. Nachdem man ihm in Perm seitens der Stadtpolitik das Leben schwer gemacht hat, wird musicAeterna privat betrieben und ist auf Spenden angewiesen. Sicher war es dabei ein Fehler, sich von einer Staatsbank sponsern zu lassen. Aber mit Putin hat er nichts gemein. Für mich ist es nur eine Frage der Zeit, dass er mit musicAeterna das Land verlässt. Im Übrigen finde ich ihn musikalisch besser, da weniger glatt als Petrenko, von Gergiev auch unter künstlerischen Aspekten ganz zu schweigen.
Yes indeed, nothing from him. Perhaps he’s too busy preening himself in front of the mirror.
It seems Petrenko doesn’t just talk the talk but also walks the walk.
I also recently noticed this video of him shared on the social media accounts of the Odessa Opera. Does anyone know what he says in the beginning? https://fb.watch/bVKOahiz9l/
In short, we’re going to play this short piece by Silvestrov, we’re thinking of you, we admire your bravery, we hope we can visit you soon, and we wish you the absolute best at this difficult time.
Thanks! I guess between him condemning Putin’s invasion of Crimea a couple of years ago as well as his statements and actions during the current war, he has no plans to return to Russia anytime soon. (And yes, I realize he never had a major career in Russia anyway but even for a visit I’m not sure border guards would be happy to welcome him back.)
The Digital Concert Hall still lists them playing the Europa Concert in Odessa on May 1. Which kind of seems unlikely right now.
They still do the same on their website though the program has been scratched. (IIRC, they planned on Rossini, Janacek, Strauss – I guess they will instead do a charity concert in Berlin maybe inviting refugees?)
How about Gergijev…
He’s washed up, outside of Russia. The sanctions will probably threaten the supply of toothpicks anyway.
Petrenko is a class act!!
Very inspiring–let’s see more big name conductors and soloists follow suit.
he seems a nice guy. unlike some
conductors who are full of their own
importance.
He is an excellent conductor but his political innocence is disappointing.
if KP can give a donation of 100,000 Euros that means his is overpaid. There no justification to pay such a high salary to conductors.