(Photo by Valeri Guérguiev)

Vice President of the European Parliament, Pina Picierno, is speaking out about Valery Gergiev’s return to Italy.

In a statement to X, Picierno said, “It is unacceptable that European funds are being used to finance the performance of a Kremlin supporter, Valery Gergiev, in the ‘Un’Estate da RE’ festival. Even after three and a half years of war, some still fail to grasp that supporting Putin’s regime, even through cultural initiatives like this, serves to legitimize his abhorrent imperialism and poses a serious concern. In the meantime, it is my duty and that of EU institutions to call on the Director of the festival and the President of the Campania Region, Vincenzo DeLuca, to take immediate action to prevent Valery Gergiev’s participation and ensure that taxpayers’ money does not end up in the pockets of a supporter of a criminal regime.”

Gergiev is set to perform on July 27, 2025, at the Reggia di Caserta in a symphonic concert with the Orchestra filarmonica “G. Verdi” di Salerno and soloists of the Mariinsky Theatre. The concert would mark his first performance in Western Europe since the war began. He last performed in Italy at the Teatro alla Scala in a production of “The Queen of Spades” before being fired for not condemning the war.

Over the past year, Gergiev has slowly regained an international schedule conducting in Oman, Iran, and China. He is reportedly set to make a comeback to Spain next season.

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