Valery Gergiev has been awarded the Order of Merit to the Fatherland in Russia. The award was signed by dictator Vladimir Putin and published on the Kremlin’s website. According, to the decree, the award was given to Gergiev for “his great contribution to the development of national culture and art, and many years of fruitful activity.” The decree strengthens Gergiev {…}

The Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm has expelled Valery Gergiev from its membership. The Academy noted in a press release, “at the meeting of the Royal Musical Academy on October 10, the decision was made to exclude the Russian conductor Valery Gergiev as a foreign member. He was excluded on the basis of his unwillingness to take a stand {…}

(Credit: Valeri Guérguiev) Valery Gergiev’s upcoming Japan concerts have been canceled. The Russian conductor was originally set to tour with Denis Matsuev in November and December. However, the concerts were canceled due to Gergiev and Matsuev’s ties to Putin. Regarding the cancelation Mikhail Shvydkoy, special representative of the Russian president for international cultural cooperation, Japan is anti-Russia. However, he said, {…}

Valery Gergiev will not be paid for his firing from the Munich Philharmonic. The orchestra said that the conductor will definitely not get any severance pay. Additionally, the orchestra added that the Maestro has not taken any legal action. A spokesperson for the orchestra said, “He probably doesn’t care, given his wealth.” In a statement, the Mayor of Munich Dieter {…}

Following questioning on why Valery Gergiev is not on the European sanctions list, Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra of the Dutch Parliament said he did not meet the criteria. The Minister said in response to parliamentary questions from D66, “He now meets ‘insufficiently’ the criteria and ‘the objective of the sanctions.” In his response, the minister couldn’t say whether Gergiev had {…}