Beatrice Venezi is defending her decision to conduct in Russia.

The Italian conductor announced that she would conduct in Novosibirsk and told the Adnkronos, “I’d like to forget Venice. In the sense that I’m focused on building, not destroying. I’ve always been this way, regardless of the Venetian situation.”

She added, “At the moment I’m focusing on other projects, mainly abroad. I am very happy to be able to say that I will return to Russia, in a very particular context such as that of Novosibirsk, which is described to me as a new cultural capital of the country. Obviously Moscow and St. Petersburg maintain their value and centrality in Russian cultural history, but there is extraordinary ferment in other realities too.”

She also announced she would go to Georgia to conduct.

The news comes months after Venezi was fired from the Teatro La Fenice, where she was set to take over as Music Director. It also comes as the War in Ukraine continues to escalate and Russia has barred the anti-war party from a parliamentary vote.

In the past years many Italian leaders have been vocal about not allowing Putin backed musicians from performing. Most recently Valery Gergiev’s Italian concert was canceled after outrage ensued.

Venezia will become the latest  Western musician to perform in Russia during the war following in the footsteps of Vittorio Grigolo, Ferruccio Furlanetto, Marcelo Alvarez and Ramon Vargas, among others.