Russian propaganda extends far beyond political rhetoric, TV and social media campaigns; it actively uses culture to whitewash the Kremlin's image.
A recent instance of this cultural propaganda involves the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra using an image of Saint Basil's Cathedral on Red Square to promote their upcoming Sergei Rachmaninoff concert conducted by Lidiya Yankovskaya.
By branding Russia as an essential 'great cultural nation,' this diplomacy seeks to normalize the state and avoid international isolation, despite its ongoing war crimes.
The BSO surely knows Rachmaninoff’s history: as an exile fleeing Russian political upheaval, he would likely be appalled to see his music used to promote the very state imagery that destroyed his cultural heritage. Similarly, conductor Lidiya Yankovskaya, having fled Saint Petersburg as a child, should certainly understand this controversy.
We urge all Rachmaninoff fans to contact the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and demand the immediate removal of Russian imperial symbols from the orchestra's promotional materials .
Arts Against Aggression has already sent a corresponding letter to the BSO:
We was deeply troubled to see the BSO’s promotional materials for the upcoming performance of Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. While the music choice itself is not the issue, the decision to feature Russian imperial symbols, such as Saint Basil's Cathedral, is highly problematic. At a time when Ukraine is enduring a war of aggression, using such imagery feels tone-deaf and historically reductive. We strongly encourage the BSO to reflect on the impact of these visual choices and to exercise greater care in how it represents Russian culture during this ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Furthermore, it is difficult to believe that the BSO is unaware of the reality of Rachmaninoff’s own life. As a composer who lived the experience of exile and suffered deeply due to the political upheaval in his homeland, he would likely be appalled to see his music used as a vehicle for the very state-sponsored imagery that represents the destruction of his own cultural heritage.
The ravaging of his beloved estate, Ivanovka, was a pivotal and traumatic event that deeply shaped Rachmaninoff's life in exile. Ivanovka, located southeast of Moscow, was far more than just a property to him; it was his sanctuary and his primary place of composition. When it was seized and eventually burned by revolutionary Russian forces in 1917, he lost not only his home and personal wealth but also his musical library, correspondence, and the instruments he relied on to work.
This mirrors the destruction currently being inflicted upon Ukraine, where Russian forces are systematically targeting and burning museums, libraries, and concert halls. This is not an abstraction: as this letter is written, Russian missiles are killing Ukrainian civilians daily and have damaged or destroyed 1,783 cultural heritage sites and 2,540 cultural infrastructure facilities.
Please remove all imperial Russian symbols from your promotional materials as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Dmitry Smelansky,
Arts Against Aggression
Author: Dmitry Smelansky
