Top Russian conductor quits over Ukraine war

On March 7, conductor Thomas Sanderling, 79, stepped down as the head of the Novosibirsk Philharmonic Orchestra in protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, though he has positioned himself against a blanket boycott of Russian art and artists.

He isn't the first to resign in the wake of the war. Vasily Petrenko, artistic director of the State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia, also suspended his work in the country in protest.

Sanderling is one of Russia's top conductors and his departure will surely be a blow to the country's classical music scene. Born in Novosibirsk in 1942, his father, German conductor Kurt Sanderling, fled the Nazis and relocated to the Soviet Union.

While in Russia, the elder Sanderling befriended big names on the classical music circuit, including Dmitri Shostakovich. Following in his fathers' footsteps, Sanderling has worked with leading Russian and Western European orchestras. The Novosibirsk Philharmonic Orchestra is considered one of Russia's most important ensembles.

Not an easy choice

The decision to leave his job was not easy, Sanderling told DW in an interview. Yet, he said as he watched in disgust at the war in Ukraine playing out, he felt he could no longer stay silent.

"When the Russian leadership brutally bombs Ukrainian cities, when people die, the number of refugees grows and laws are being passed that mean increasing totalitarianism...it all led to this decision: I feel I have to leave my post," he said.

Sanderling said he doesn't have any illusions that his decision will have any influence on the Russian leadership, or what he said are the disappointing number of people who support the state's actions. "Rather, I join those who cannot remain silent. And that is also a number of people and artists," he said.

Even in the initial days of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which began on February 24, several Russian artists in and out of the country spoke out against President Vladimir Putin's decisions, including Berlin Philharmonic chief conductor Kirill Petrenko, Bolshoi ballet choreographer Alexei Ratmansky, who abruptly stopped working on a new piece in Moscow, and Russian pop star Sergey Lazarev.

'A matter of individual choice'

In the last few days, several Russian artists have left their posts — or have been fired — for not taking a stand against the conflict in Ukraine. Last Monday, star conductor Valery Gergiev, chief conductor of the Munich Philharmonic, was fired after he refused to issue a statement condemning the war in Ukraine. Tugan Sokhiev — sometimes considered Gergiev's protege — left his post as music director of the Bolshoi Theater after feeling growing pressure to make a statement.

Sanderling said he feels it's not fair that cultural figures are being asked to speak out against the Russian regime, or lose their jobs. "It is important to have a position, but it can't be demanded. I think it's a matter of individual choice," he told DW. 

"I know that many artists in Russia are disturbed, that they are expected to absolutely take a stand. And I think it's also part of our European culture to recognize the right of the individual to speak out on an issue or not," the conductor said.

Referring to the Munich Philharmonic's sacking of Gergiev, Sanderling said the conductor's choice not to speak out against the Russian regime was likely "not easy for him." Sanderling said he understands the rights of an arts organization to want its head to speak out, but said Gergiev's choice would have had implications for his contacts working in state-sponsored organizations.

"His extended family is active in Russia, including at the Mariinsky Theater. His statement would have had an impact on many people," Sanderling pointed out.

In recent days, superstar Russian soprano Anna Netrebko has withdrawn from performances for the next two seasons at the Metropolitan Opera in New York after her statement against the war — which did not specifically denounce Putin — did not satisfy the opera house's head. Netrebko has publicly supported the Russian president in the past, and has been pictured holding a flag used in Russian-backed separatist regions.

Is 'cancel culture' effective?

Such moves have raised questions as to how far organizations should go to demand a position from artists. The Metropolitan Opera's director Peter Gelb said it was not an "artistic witch hunt" in which artists were interrogated about their positions, and pointed out that Russian artists and Russian music will continue to be welcome at his institution.

But this isn't the case everywhere. In recent days, many Russian artists have denounced a "cancel culture" movement in relation to Russian arts and culture. Young Russian artists have been excluded from music competitions, and even works by Russian composers have been banned from the repertoire. In the film world, the Cannes International Film Festival announced it would not receive Russian delegations this year in protest against the war in Ukraine. Russia has also been barred from the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest. Various theaters have canceled upcoming productions with the Bolshoi Ballet.

Yet, Sanderling stands firmly against blanket cultural bans. "Criticism of Russia's behavior should not lead to the punishment of innocent people who then have to pay for it," he told DW. The "no-Russians" attitude, he said, reminds him of "the worst of Soviet times when it was said, 'we don't want foreigners'." 

"I don't think it's right, and as a European I can only say that it's not in line with our values. And the banning of great cultural and musical works is not cultured; it is just stupid," he said.

Sanderling pointed out that these works are part of international music culture and that audiences are not against them. "Last week in Tallinn, for example, I conducted a purely Shostakovich program with the Estonian State Orchestra  — and the audience really enjoyed it."

Other conductors have also resisted blanket boycotts. On February 28, renowned Estonian conductor Paavo Jarvi conducted a concert with the Russian Youth Orchestra in Moscow, despite being urged to cancel the concert and leave the country.

"After thinking about this deeply I have come to the conclusion that this would be defeatist, dishonest and disloyal to the wonderful young musicians of the Russian Youth Orchestra, who feel confused, torn and shocked, and who are against this war as much as I am," Jarvi wrote on his website.

"These young people should not and cannot be punished for the barbaric actions of their government," he said, while at the same time condemning "the actions of the Russian government and Putin."

This article was partially translated from German.