Gergiev bows out at EIF
With a brief announcement on Twitter, the Edinburgh International Festival has announced the end of its association with Russian conductor – and supporter of President Vladimir Putin – Valery Gergiev.
The musical director of the Mariinsky Opera in St Petersburg had been the Honorary President of the Festival for more than a decade, but pressure had mounted on the EIF to terminate his appointment. Maestro Gergiev had been dropped by his German-based agency following his removal from a five concert tour of the US, conducting the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
The statement from the Festival said: “Our board of trustees has asked for, and accepted, the resignation of Valery Gergiev as Honorary President of the Festival. Edinburgh is twinned with the city of Kyiv and this action is being taken in sympathy with, and support of, its citizens.”