Currentzis conducts in Dortmund: members suspended

Created: 11/24/2022 13:26

Conductor Teodor Currentzis.

© Barbara Gindl/APA/dpa

According to the Dortmund Konzerthaus, conductor Teodor Currentzis and his Russian ensemble MusicAeterna will be performing there on Friday without several musicians who have been suspended for making statements in connection with the war in Ukraine.

"We have always said: Anyone who clearly speaks out in favor of the war or the Kremlin cannot get a stage with us," said Artistic Director Raphael von Hoensbroech.

Dortmund – Konzerthaus and management of the ensemble were therefore “completely in agreement” about the suspension.

A spokeswoman for MusicAeterna could not immediately be reached for comment.

The classic magazine "Crescendo" had previously reported.

Specifically, it is about pro-war or polemical anti-Western statements by four members of the ensemble, for example in social media.

For example, one member recently published a song in support of Russian soldiers on the VKontakte social network.

The Greek-Russian conductor Teodor Currentzis does not comment publicly on the war.

This has recently brought him criticism.

The Cologne Philharmonic, for example, canceled a concert by the SWR Symphony Orchestra, which he conducted.

The ensemble MusicAeterna is also financed with money from Russia.

Von Hoensbroech said: "We cannot ask every artist to martyr himself." Critical statements would be understood in Russia as a hard signal.

With a view to the financing, he said: "Personally, I think that's critical, but I also know from many conversations that it can't be changed that quickly." due to this financing but not for the time being.

dpa