Bolshoi director Gergiev's Caserta concert canceled: his music is pro-Putin propaganda against Ukraine.

But how could it have occurred to the President of the Campania Region, Vincenzo De Luca, to invite to conduct a concert on July 27th at the Palace of Caserta it maestro Valery Gergiev, who is a great musician and is the director of the theater Moscow Bolshoi but at this moment he is above all a pied piper Vladimir Putin and an architect of the warmongering propaganda of the Russian dictator against theUkraineFreedom of art has nothing to do with this, because an art that serves the war and martyrdom of Ukraine is unworthy of a civilized country and is propaganda. Moreover, two days ago the concert that closed the Bolshoi theater season conducted by the Russian maestro was a hymn to the Russian liberation of Donbass dominated by the shameful parallel between the fight against Nazism and the war in Ukraine waged by Putin. This is not art, but—it bears repeating—it's called propaganda. And to complete the picture and portrait of the Russian musician, it's worth remembering how Gergiev became director of the Bolshoi: he did so by accepting the prestigious post without hesitation after the dismissal of his predecessor, who had dared to criticize Russian aggression against Ukraine. This is why we cannot remain insensitive to the appeal of Nobel prizes, of the widow of Navalny, artists, writers, and the EU to cancel the Caserta concert. Heeding that call is the only serious way to honor Ukraine's martyrs and express our full solidarity with the brave Ukrainian people. President De Luca, Gergiev's music is not for a country that seeks peace and freedom, and canceling that concert would only do it honor. This is more than "primitive and demagogic polemics." Freedom comes first. Fortunately, the Royal Palace of Caserta heeded the many anti-concert appeals and canceled the entire concert.