Ukraine

[Ein Heldenleben]

These three artists are well known Putin apologists, and neither Strauss nor Furtwangler (or Karajan), for all their faults, could ever be described as Hitler apologists so, in my view, we have a different situation. Sadly, Gergiev, Matsuev and Nebretko have hitched their cart to the wrong horse and I would say that that their careers in the West are finished.

Other Russian artists, such as the two Petrenko's and Vladimir Jurowski have, as far as I know, kept their distance from Putin and don't, again as far as I know, owe anything to Putin. Jurowski has Ukrainian relatives so he's caught in the middle. Semyon Bychkov condemned the invasion without delay.

I’m not sure that comparisons with WW2 are right . This appears to be what Netrebko has said publicly.

She continued, “First of all: I am opposed to this war. I am Russian and I love my country but I have many friends in Ukraine and the pain and suffering right now breaks my heart. I want this war to end and for people to be able to live in peace. This is what I hope and pray for. I want to add, however, that forcing artists, or any public figure to voice their political opinions in public and to denounce their homeland is not right. This should be a free choice. I am not a political person. I am not an expert in politics. I am an artist and my purpose is to unite across political divides.”

If Karajan , Strauss or Furtwangler had said this in 1939 - 45 they would have faced worse consequences than the end of their careers. I think it’s perfectly possible that all Netrebko will perform in the West again.

[Serial_Apologist]

We hear that talks are afoot between the Ukrainian government and Putin representatives, somewhere on the border with Belarus. It could be that Putin is starting to come to his senses, but I have a feeling this will just be to tell Ukraine that unless it ceases its resistance, the consequences will be worse.

[cat]

BTW, Putin must be rubbing his hands together over Brexit. Divide and rule.

A fat lot of good it's done him with Germany now falling in line with a united Europe, from Hungary to the UK, all supporting Ukraine.

[Frances_iom]

A fat lot of good it's done him with Germany now falling in line with a united Europe, from Hungary to the UK, all supporting Ukraine.

I suspect that Putin's forces will implement a scorched earth policy in Ukraine - they practised this in Syria - effectively to remove any significant modernisation in Ukraine leaving it too weak to act as any model for Russia's other satellites in particular Belarus.

[cat]

I suspect that Putin's forces will implement a scorched earth policy in Ukraine - they practised this in Syria - effectively to remove any significant modernisation in Ukraine leaving it too weak to act as any model for Russia's other satellites in particular Belarus.

I doubt Putin could do this and survive politically. There's a lot of shared history and culture as he acknowledges himself. In fact that's part of his reason for invading. If he starts carpet bombing churches etc he's toast.

[oddoneout]

A fat lot of good it's done him with Germany now falling in line with a united Europe, from Hungary to the UK, all supporting Ukraine.

Among this gallery of support from around the world is one of protesters blocking traffic in Bern(4 up from the end), not something I associate with the Swiss, although that might be my misconception.

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2022/feb/26/global-support-for-ukraine-continues-in-pictures

[Nick Armstrong]

The cocktail-stick waver also cancelled by his agent:

[RichardB]

We hear that talks are afoot between the Ukrainian government and Putin representatives, somewhere on the border with Belarus. It could be that Putin is starting to come to his senses, but I have a feeling this will just be to tell Ukraine that unless it ceases its resistance, the consequences will be worse.

The reason I was so surprised that the invasion went ahead was that I'd been reading for ages beforehand that Russian forces were insufficient and their supply lines inadequate for any kind of prolonged campaign, let alone occupation. I have the idea that Putin was expecting a rapid capitulation which isn't what has happened. At some point he would have needed to negotiate, and he may be thinking that he's unlikely to be able to get into a stronger position than he has now.

[teamsaint]

I doubt if hopes for consistency in these matters are any more than wishful thinking.

We should all , IMO, be very careful about adding to the intolerance in the world, (including Western Europe where moves in an authoritarian direction are still in full flow) which has been all too obvious in recent times.

That isn’t to say, of course, that people shouldn’t be free to make a stand as they see fit.

[RichardB]

forcing artists, or any public figure to voice their political opinions in public and to denounce their homeland is not right. This should be a free choice. I am not a political person. I am not an expert in politics. I am an artist and my purpose is to unite across political divides.

Here she is wrong on several counts. Public figures, by reason of being public figures, can't distance themselves from what is going on in the world. Secondly nobody is asking her to "denounce her homeland". If she sees her position in those terms she is conflating her homeland with the dictator who currently rules it, so that she is already part of the problem. It's either naive or disingenuous to claim that an artist can claim to be "not a political person". It isn't an artist's purpose to "unite across political divides" but to bear witness to our shared humanity, which involves rejecting the dehumanisation of repressive regimes wherever they might be found.

[Serial_Apologist]

We should all , IMO, be very careful about adding to the intolerance in the world, (including Western Europe where moves in an authoritarian direction are still in full flow) which has been all too obvious in recent times.

I was very surprised to learn that Poland and Hungary have come on board over sanctions - not Serbia, which did not surprise me.

[RichardB]

I was very surprised to learn that Poland and Hungary have come on board over sanctions - not Serbia, which did not surprise me.

Not surprising in light of the fact that Poland and Hungary are both NATO members, as well as in the EU, so their leaders could be heavily leaned on from various directions simultaneously if there were any hesitation. Plus they both have borders with Ukraine. Aleksandar Vučić in Serbia has been trying in his mediocre way to play the Tito game of fawning to both East and West for his own advantage. You can buy fuel for your car at a Gazprom station and drive it on roads funded by EU grants.

[Petrushka]

I was very surprised to learn that Poland and Hungary have come on board over sanctions.

They know which side of the bread is buttered!

[french frank]

I have the idea that Putin was expecting a rapid capitulation which isn't what has happened.

No particular knowledge, but that's what I thought. I wonder what his miltary advisers have said to him? I can't see that he would know much about what urban combat is like. Containing what's happening at home may be just as much of a problem.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Here she is wrong on several counts. Public figures, by reason of being public figures, can't distance themselves from what is going on in the world. Secondly nobody is asking her to "denounce her homeland". If she sees her position in those terms she is conflating her homeland with the dictator who currently rules it, so that she is already part of the problem. It's either naive or disingenuous to claim that an artist can claim to be "not a political person". It isn't an artist's purpose to "unite across political divides" but to bear witness to our shared humanity, which involves rejecting the dehumanisation of repressive regimes wherever they might be found.

Yes it’s been written by a PR a person whereas the quite superb letter written by Gergiev’s ex agent has clearly been written from the heart. I completely agree with your very well expressed sentiments. All art , like all sport , has political resonances.