Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Olga Lyubimova commented on the cancellation of concerts by conductor Valery Gergiev, opera singer Ildar Abdrazakov and pianist Elizaveta Leonskaya in Europe. Her words were conveyed RIA Novosti.
In an interview with the agency, Lyubimova condemned the cancellation of performances by Russian artists. She said that in this way, “a certain persuasive Western elite” is destroying cultural bridges and impoverishing the cultural life of its own citizens, depriving them of the opportunity to access the world's cultural heritage.
“Russia does not intend to deprive anyone of the opportunity to enrich the lives of the world's peoples culturally and spiritually through the achievements of its culture and is always ready for constructive dialogue,” the minister added.
In July, the outstanding Russian conductor Valery Gergiev's concert in Italy was canceled. In November, the performance of the famous opera singer, Honored Artist of Russia and soloist of the Mariinsky Theater Ildar Abdrazakov in the opera “Don Juan” was canceled there. After that, the concert hall of the Dutch city of Eindhoven announced the cancellation of a performance by Soviet and Austrian pianist Elizaveta Leonskaya.
