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Russian Conductor Valery Gergiev Sparks Outrage in Italy Over Putin Ties Before Caserta Concert
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![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
Russian conductor Valery Gergiev, known for his close ties to Russian leader Vladimir Putin, remains at the center of controversy in Italy ahead of his scheduled performance at the Royal Palace of Caserta, a UNESCO World heritage site 35 km north of Naples, on July 29.
This was reported by La Stampa on July 18.
The backlash intensified after the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, where Gergiev conducted the season-closing premiere of Prokofiev's Semyon Kotko, projected images on stage praising the “liberation of Donbas” before the opera began.
The text featured on the screen stated: “In February 2022, the Russian army came to the aid of the people of Donbas, who had been fighting for their lives and freedom for 8 years. As a result of a nationwide referendum, Luhansk region has returned to Russia forever.”
The production was directed by Sergei Novikov, a senior official in the Russian Presidential Administration, further fueling criticism of Gergiev’s political alignment.
According to La Stampa, Gergiev’s upcoming appearance at Caserta, part of the “Un’Estate da Re” festival, has already drawn sharp reactions from public figures, including Yulia Navalnaya, widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died in prison last year, as well as several politicians.
The debate has spilled over into Italian politics. At the CISL trade union congress, European Parliament Vice-President Pina Picierno criticized Gergiev’s invitation, saying that it “would be an unacceptable insult for the Campania Region and for Italy. I don’t know if people realize who we’re talking about…”
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani responded:
“He was invited by the Campania Region, the government has nothing to do with it. He holds a Dutch passport, so he can travel freely within the EU. The invitation came from the regional president—who, by the way, is from your party. I personally disagree with the invitation, but I can’t do anything about it. The appeal should not be made to the government but to the president of the Campania Region.”
Campania Governor Vincenzo De Luca, whose administration organized the event, also addressed the issue during the Giffoni Film Festival.
“Here, girls and boys from all over the world come together, exchange life experiences, thoughts, and religious ideas. In a world at war, we should do the same at the level of nations and peoples: reestablish lines of dialogue. Art, music, literature, cinema, and poetry can be fundamental channels for dialogue, for the sharing of experiences and humanity,” he noted.
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De Luca emphasized that this was precisely why the Giffoni Festival mattered. He added that just as important was the Campania Region’s approach to creating a space for dialogue within the cultural world—without conflating politics and art or demanding political statements from those engaged in artistic expression.
According to him, such demands would be absurd, as they would lead to a breakdown in communication altogether. He stressed the need to keep dialogue open, noting that cinema, culture, and literature remained essential channels for connection and understanding.
Despite the mounting criticism, Gergiev’s Caserta concert remains scheduled for July 29.
Earlier, it was reported that Russian opera singer Anna Netrebko, known for her support of Vladimir Putin and the self-proclaimed Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics, is set to return to London’s Royal Opera House after six years.
She will open the season starring in a new production of Puccini’s Tosca, which will also launch Jakub Hrůša’s tenure as the company’s new musical director.
