Franz Welser-Möst has announced he will boycott the Kennedy Center but will not boycott the United States.

In a recent interview with Backstage Classical, the conductor said, “Would I personally perform at the Kennedy Center right now? Probably not—the politics there and the government crackdown irritate me too much. But that makes it all the more important to support places where culture is celebrated as a form of debate, humanism, and human dignity. Especially now. We must believe in the power of music—and assert it.”

He added, “Especially in times when this light of art is in danger of being extinguished, it is important for us artists to let it shine especially brightly.”

However, he noted that he would continue to conduct in the states especially in this difficult moment. He said, “What would it mean for an orchestra like the Cleveland Orchestra if all its guests from Europe suddenly cancelled their concerts with us? I’m fairly certain that this would endanger the very existence of our ensemble. This would punish an orchestra supported by many humanist patrons in a largely democratic city. It would be fatal if such islands of responsibility were suddenly left alone. Boycotts of American cultural institutions would likely lead to the USA becoming an intellectual desert. And this would support a policy that accepts precisely that: the insignificance of culture. I advocate that we (especially as European artists) engage intensively with the cultural scene here before making decisions about how to deal with the US. That we understand its structures, its deep roots in society, and its importance for democratic discourse.”

Welser-Möst’s comments come after numerous artists canceled their U.S. engagements due to the politics of Donald Trump. Among them have been Sir. András Schiff and Christian Tetzlaff.

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