Photo credit: Denis Matsuev / freeze frame / Smotrim.ru online edition
Performances of the famous Russian pianist Denis Matsuev have been canceled in Italy, RIA Novosti reports. The musician had two concerts planned for the spring, which were part of the Pianistico festival program.
The organizers canceled the concerts after the letters of the mayors of the cities of Brescia and Bergamo, the administration of these cities was influenced by the requests of the Ukrainian ambassador.
Cultural figures and local authorities in some European countries oppose attempts to abolish Russian culture and, despite pressure, hold concerts, exhibitions and performances based on Russian classics. In particular, the Italian artist Yorit Agoch created a mural depicting Fyodor Dostoevsky, thus expressing his protest against the cancellation of courses on the work of the Russian classic in an Italian university.
The La Scala theater in Milan opened the season with the Boris Godunov opera , and the director of the Uffizi Gallery did not allow the Hall of Russian Icons to be closed. In Florence, the mayor stood up for Russian culture, refusing to comply with the demand to dismantle the monument to Fyodor Dostoevsky.
The Friends of Great Russia Association organized rallies in Rome and Milan against attempts to abolish Russian culture. The rallies were supported by famous Italian actors, singers and other cultural figures.
Russkiy Mir
