The Annapolis Symphony Orchestra (ASO) in Maryland has withdrawn from its planned collaboration with Russian violinist Vadim Repin. His performance was scheduled for November 6 and 7 as part of the “Forces of Nature” concerts. The decision came after the Embassy of Ukraine in the United States called on the orchestra to cancel the musician’s invitation over his ties to Russian state and state-affiliated cultural institutions.
This was reported by the Embassy of Ukraine in the United States.
On September 4, the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra announced that it would no longer perform with Repin during the November concerts. According to the official statement, the orchestra and the violinist “reached a mutual decision not to proceed with the planned collaboration” on a performance of Dmitri Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No. 1.
The ASO explained that the current circumstances are not conducive to a successful joint performance and do not serve the interests of concertgoers. The orchestra also said that both sides want an end to the war, which has caused widespread suffering and destruction, and expressed hope for the possibility of future artistic collaboration.
The ASO’s decision came just days after the orchestra had said it saw no grounds to cancel Repin’s performance. At the time, ASO representatives told The Violin Channel that, after reviewing the violinist’s public activities again, they had found no evidence of his personal support for putin or the aggressive policies of the russian government. The orchestra also noted that in 2022 it had already replaced Repin in its program following the start of the full-scale invasion, but said that decision had not been based on evidence of his personal support for putin or the invasion.
The Embassy of Ukraine in the United States called on the orchestra to reconsider its decision because of Repin’s participation in Russian state and state-affiliated cultural events. In particular, the diplomatic mission pointed to his February 21, 2024, performance with the State Kremlin Orchestra at a concert organized by the Kremlin Foundation for Defender of the Fatherland Day. According to the embassy, the event was dedicated to the “great defenders” of russia.
The embassy also stated that, after the start of the full-scale invasion, the Vadim Repin Arts Development Foundation received significant funding from the Russian Presidential Grants Foundation, a state institution that supports russia’s cultural policies.
The Ukrainian side recalled that the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra had already demonstrated solidarity with Ukraine in 2022, when it replaced Repin in its program with a musical performance in support of Ukraine.
In recent years, other cultural institutions have also withdrawn from collaborations with Repin. They include the Mannheim Philharmonic Orchestra in Germany, the Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Palm Beach Symphony in Florida. Earlier this year, Italy’s Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino also canceled the violinist’s planned performances.
The public organization Arts Against Aggression, which had opposed inviting Repin to Annapolis, said following the cancellation that it would continue to demand an apology from the orchestra to the Ukrainian-American community and the broader public. The organization also called for the dismissal of ASO Executive Director Erika Bondarev Rapach and an investigation into her possible ties to the Russian regime.
Repin was scheduled to perform at Maryland Hall on November 6 and 7 as part of the “Forces of Nature” program. Following the cancellation of the collaboration, the orchestra is expected to announce changes to the programs for those concerts. Purchased tickets remain valid, and ticket holders can also exchange them for tickets to another ASO concert.
Photo: Getty Images
Author: Danylo Pievchev