Stage director Claus Guth has rejected the Golden Mask Award at the Bolshoi Theatre.

Guth was awarded the prize for Best Director but the director noted that he could not accept the award due to the war, which he has condemned.

Guth was receiving the award for his production of “Salome,” which was praised by critics and audiences alike. According to Guth, he was contacted by the jury of the prize days after he received an Olivier Award for his production of “Jenůfa.” 

After the director rejected the award, the jury opted not to hand out a Best Director prize. The “Salome” production was up for eight Golden Mask Awards and set designer Etienne Pluss, costume designer Ursula Kudrna and lighting designer Olaf Freese also rejected their nominations.

The “Salome” production was originally a co-production with the Metropolitan Opera but after the war began, General Manager Peter Gelb broke ties with the Bolshoi Theatre. It is not known if the same production will eventually arrive in New York.