Putin supporter Valery Gergiev will no longer conduct at Carnegie Hall amid Ukraine invasion


Russian conductor Valery Gergiev is no longer scheduled to perform at Carnegie Hall this weekend amid Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Gergiev, a supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was set to conduct with the Vienna Philharmonic on a U.S. tour beginning on Friday at Carnegie Hall, but he has now been replaced by Yannick Nézet-Séguin, The New York Times reports.
A spokesperson for Carnegie Hall told NPR the change was made due to "recent world events."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Gergiev appeared in an ad for Putin during his 2012 presidential campaign, and he also supported Russia's annexation of Crimea and was given a Hero of Labor of the Russian Federation award.
Carnegie's executive and artistic director, Clive Gillinson, previously defended Gergiev, telling The New York Times in September, "Why should artists be the only people in the world who are not allowed to have political opinions? My view is you only judge people on their artistry." But the invasion of Ukraine has sparked widespread condemnation by world leaders, and President Biden said Thursday it would make Putin into a "pariah on the international stage." Activists were expected to protest if Gergiev conducted as scheduled.
According to The Associated Press, Milan's Teatro alla Scala has also told Gergiev he must make a statement supporting a peaceful resolution in Ukraine or he can't continue an engagement there.
"We are asking him to take a clear position against this invasion, and in the case in which he doesn't do it, we are constrained to renounce the collaboration,″ Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala told the AP. "It is clear that the culture can go on other levels, but in front of such a situation we need to act."
Russian pianist Denis Matsuev, another Putin associate, is also no longer scheduled to perform at Carnegie Hall with Gergiev.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
What does 'conquering' Gaza mean to Israel?
Today's Big Question Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet has approved a plan to displace much of the Palestinian population while seizing and occupying the territory on a long-term basis.
-
Casey Means: the controversial 'wellness influencer' nominated for surgeon general
In the Spotlight Means has drawn controversy for her closeness to RFK Jr.
-
Trump taps Fox News' Pirro for DC attorney post
speed read The president has named Fox News host Jeanine Pirro to be the top federal prosecutor for Washington, replacing acting US Attorney Ed Martin
-
The secret lives of Russian saboteurs
Under The Radar Moscow is recruiting criminal agents to sow chaos and fear among its enemies
-
Is the 'coalition of the willing' going to work?
Today's Big Question PM's proposal for UK/French-led peacekeeping force in Ukraine provokes 'hostility' in Moscow and 'derision' in Washington
-
Ukraine: where do Trump's loyalties really lie?
Today's Big Question 'Extraordinary pivot' by US president – driven by personal, ideological and strategic factors – has 'upended decades of hawkish foreign policy toward Russia'
-
What will Trump-Putin Ukraine peace deal look like?
Today's Big Question US president 'blindsides' European and UK leaders, indicating Ukraine must concede seized territory and forget about Nato membership
-
Ukraine's disappearing army
Under the Radar Every day unwilling conscripts and disillusioned veterans are fleeing the front
-
Cuba's mercenaries fighting against Ukraine
The Explainer Young men lured by high salaries and Russian citizenship to enlist for a year are now trapped on front lines of war indefinitely
-
Ukraine-Russia: are both sides readying for nuclear war?
Today's Big Question Putin changes doctrine to lower threshold for atomic weapons after Ukraine strikes with Western missiles
-
What would happen if Russia declared war on Nato?
In depth Response to an attack on UK or other Western allies would be 'overwhelming'