Celebs: Russian conductor Gergiev shunned by La Scala, other venues – Gulf Digital News

Celebs: Russian conductor Gergiev shunned by La Scala, other venues – Gulf Digital News

Russian Valery Gergiev will not conduct at Milan's La Scala this week after he failed to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and he is also set to be sidelined from roles in Munich and Rotterdam.

Gergiev - general director of the St Petersburg Mariinsky Theatre and regarded as close to Russian President Vladimir Putin - conducted 'The Queen of Spades', an opera based on Alexander Pushkin's novel, at La Scala on February 23.

The show will run ‪until March 15 and the next performance is scheduled for Saturday.

"I don't think he will be there, I think at this point we can rule it out," Giuseppe Sala, La Scala theatre board chairman and mayor of Milan, told reporters on Monday.

"The maestro did not reply to us," he added, referring to requests for Gergiev to comment on the Ukraine crisis.

The Mariinsky Theatre did not respond to a request for comment.

The Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra also said it was suspending its work with Gergiev, who is an honorary conductor in the Dutch city, and would cancel a Gergiev Festival planned for September unless he distances himself from Putin's actions.

Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter last week gave Gergiev a deadline of Monday to speak out or be