Following fierce criticism, the planned concert by Russian conductor Valery Gergiev in the Reggia di Caserta officially canceled. The decision was made on Monday, six days before the planned performance at the "Un'Estate da Re" festival.
Criticism of the conductor grows - protest mobilized
Gergiev is known for his close ties to Vladimir Putin and his support for the Russian war agenda. Over 700 scientists, artists and Nobel Prize winners have written open letters to the EU Commission and the regional authorities. Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Alexei Navalny, is also one of the most vocal opponents. She described the concert as a "gift for the dictator" and criticized the use of culture as a buffer for political propaganda. In addition, an online petition collected thousands of signatures. The cornerstones of the criticism were the use of taxpayers' money and the instrumentalization of the festival for political legitimization.
Political pressure decisive - public reactions
The long-pending protests were wide-ranging: they ranged from European MPs such as Pina Picierno to human rights activists. The Minister of Culture also warned that art should not be used for propaganda. In contrast, the President of the Campania region, Vincenzo De Luca, defended the performance as a possible sign of dialog. Nevertheless, the resistance could not be contained.
Organizers give in - concerns about demonstrations
According to the administration of the Reggia di Casert, the organizer, protests by Ukrainian groups were imminent. Dialogue is good, said Picierno, but an "ambassador of democracy" is not a conductor who supports Putin. The Reggia's management reacted and announced the cancellation due to concerns about disruption and political and moral risks.
