Ukraine urges US orchestra to cancel performance by Kremlin-supporting violinist

Ukraine's Embassy in the United States has called on the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra to cancel Russian violinist Vadim Repin's participation in concerts scheduled for this autumn.

Source: the embassy on social media

Quote: "The decision to invite Mr Repin raises serious concerns given his documented involvement in Russian state-sponsored and state-linked cultural initiatives."

Details: The Forces of Nature concerts featuring the Russian violinist are scheduled for 6-7 November at Maryland Hall.

The embassy noted that Repin had performed at a concert organised by a Kremlin foundation to honour Russia's "great defenders".

In addition, since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Vadim Repin Foundation for the Development of the Arts has received substantial funding from Russia's so-called Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives.

Quote: "We hope the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra will give these concerns careful consideration and reaffirm the solidarity with Ukraine it demonstrated in 2022, when it withdrew Mr Repin from its program and replaced his performance with a musical tribute to Ukraine."

Details: The embassy noted that a number of cultural institutions have already reconsidered their cooperation with Repin. They include the Mannheimer Philharmoniker in Germany, the Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra and the Palm Beach Symphony in Florida, which cancelled the Russian violinist's performance in March.

Background: A performance by Repin to open the Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra's concert season in Budapest was cancelled thanks to the efforts of the Ukrainian embassy.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon to help us keep reporting!