A concert in Italy by Russian conductor Gergiev is cancelled after protests
ROME — A concert by Russian conductor Valery Gergiev has been cancelled, organizers in Italy announced Monday, following protests against giving the stage to the conductor who has been largely barred from European venues for failing to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Gergiev had been invited to conduct during a summer festival at the Royal Palace of Caserta near Naples next Sunday. The regional governor, Vincenzo de Luca, had defended the invitation, saying that 'the logic of preclusion … does not help peace.''
The invitation had been widely criticized by human rights activists, Russian opposition figures and European parliamentarians.
Gergiev, who is head of the Bolshoi and Mariinsky Russian state theaters, is considered close to President Vladimir Putin.
Milan's La Scala was the first theater in the West to cut off relations with Gergiev, who was engaged at the theater when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, after he failed to respond to Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala's appeal to speak out against the war.
The Associated Press
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
National Post
5 minutes ago
- National Post
Montreal church fined $2,500 for hosting U.S. Christian singer without permit
The City of Montreal has fined a local church $2,500 for hosting a concert Friday night by the U.S.-based Christian musician Sean Feucht. Article content The city says the church did not have a permit to organize the concert, which it says ran counter to Montreal's values of inclusion, solidarity and respect. Article content Article content Officials have cancelled Feucht's scheduled concerts in several Canadian cities in recent days, including Halifax, Charlottetown and Quebec City. Article content Feucht has spoken out against 'gender ideology,' abortion and the LGBTQ+ community and his religious and political views have grabbed the attention of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration. Article content Montreal police arrested a 38-year-old man during a protest Friday night outside the church. Article content Article content
CTV News
38 minutes ago
- CTV News
City fines Montreal church for hosting MAGA-affiliated singer Sean Feucht concert
Christian musician Sean Feucht of California preaches to the crowd during a rally at the National Mall in Washington, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. (Jose Luis Magana/The Associated Press) The City of Montreal has fined a local church $2,500 for hosting a concert Friday night by the U.S.-based Christian musician Sean Feucht. The city says the church did not have a permit to organize the concert, which it says ran counter to Montreal's values of inclusion, solidarity and respect. Officials have cancelled Feucht's scheduled concerts in several Canadian cities in recent days, including Halifax, Charlottetown and Quebec City. Feucht has spoken out against 'gender ideology,' abortion and the LGBTQ+ community and his religious and political views have grabbed the attention of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration. Montreal police arrested a 38-year-old man during a protest Friday night outside the church. They also say a smoke bomb was set off inside the church during Feucht's performance. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 26, 2025. The Canadian Press
CTV News
3 hours ago
- CTV News
OPP aware of planned concert by controversial U.S. singer east of Ottawa
Christian musician Sean Feucht of California sings during a rally at the National Mall in Washington, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) say it is aware of a planned concert this afternoon by U.S.-based Christian musician Sean Feucht in eastern Ontario. A post by the singer on X says a free event is planned in an open field in the Township of Alfred and Plantagenet just off Highway 17. Feucht had been scheduled to play in Gatineau on Saturday but had his permit pulled by the National Capital Commission (NCC), who cited 'public safety and security' as the reason for the cancellation. OPP Const. Brianna Babin tells CTV News Ottawa that officers are patrolling the event and that a stage has been set up in the area. Police are in contact with the owners of Cedar Shade Campground located next to the concert site. The township is also aware of the planned event, she says. Babin says the event is scheduled to go forward and it remains unclear how many people will attend. The concert comes a day after Feucht held a concert at a downtown Montreal church, despite having his permits revoked by the city. The City of Montreal says it will be issuing the church a fine. At least six other dates of Feucht's Canadian tour have been cancelled, including in Quebec City, Charlottetown, Halifax, Moncton and Vaughan. Feucht describes himself as a musician, missionary, author, and activist. He has spoken out against 'gender ideology,' abortion, and the LGBTQ+ community, and his religious and political views have grabbed the attention of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration. The Atlantic magazine, based in Washington, D.C., recently described Feucht as a Christian nationalist who has become a 'MAGA superstar.' In a statement to CTV News Ottawa Thursday, Feucht said he is protesting policies enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic, which he claimed were biased against Christians. Feucht says on X that he will be playing in Toronto on Sunday. With files from CTV News Montreal
