Munich Philharmonic Orchestra Sacks Renowned Russian Maestro Valery Gergiev For Failing To 'Condemn' Ukraine Invasion

The Munich Philharmonic Orchestra has sacked renowned Russian conductor Valery Gergiev for refusing to "unequivocally distance" himself from the invasion of Ukraine.

"Munich is parting from principal conductor Valery Gergiev. With immediate effect, he will no longer be conducting concerts of the Munich Philharmonic. Valery Gergiev has not spoken out despite my call to clearly and unequivocally distance himself from the brutal war of aggression that Putin is waging against Ukraine and now in particular against our twin city of Kyiv" Munich mayor Dieter Reiter said in a statement.

"I would have expected him to reconsider and revise his positive opinion of Russia’s ruler. He has not done so. In the current situation, however, a clear signal to the orchestra, its audience, the public and the city council would have been indispensable to allow us to continue working together. Since this was not forthcoming, we have no choice but to let him go. We will sort out everything else as soon as possible." the statement added.

Gergiev, who is generally regarded as one of the world’s greatest conductors, has served as the chief conductor at the Munich Philharmonic since 2015.

Gergiev was also the principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra between 2007 and 2015. The conductor is the recipient of several international awards, including the French National Order of the Legion of Honor, as well as the Order of Arts and Letters among them.

A prolific composer who clocks up an average of 275 concerts per year, Gergiev has come under relentless pressure from cultural institutions across Europe since Russia attacked Ukraine last week. He has already been dropped from a slew of prestigious concerts.

The Scala in Milan, the Festspielhaus in Baden-Baden and the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg have severed their ties with the 68-year-old composer.

Gergiev is a close friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Gergiev has praised Putin for ensuring stability in Russia and rekindling national pride, saying the president's enormous popularity was something "the Western world has difficulty understanding".

In 2014, Gergiev was a signatory to an artists’ appeal that supported the annexation and in which he stated his clear support for Putin’s political views.