Reggia di Caserta has cancelled a controversial concert by Russian conductor Valery Gergiev, originally set for July 27 as part of the “Un’Estate da Re” summer festival. The decision followed days of mounting pressure from Italian authorities, Ukrainian organisations, and Russian dissidents.
Gergiev, 72, is a well-known associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin and has never publicly criticised Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. His inclusion in the festival sparked an uproar. Critics argued that allowing him to perform would symbolically end the ban he has faced on European stages since the war began.
The Campania Regional Government organised the performance. However, there followed intense criticism, including from Italy’s central government. As a result, the Reggia’s management confirmed on Monday the concert was cancelled.
Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano welcomed the move, calling it a decision “of common sense” that “respects the moral need to protect the values of the free world.”
Support for the cancellation came from multiple directions. An open letter signed by several Nobel prize-winners was sent to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and regional officials, urging them to scrap the event. An online petition gathered over 16,000 signatures.
The Russian Embassy in Rome criticised the move. In a Telegram post, it warned that Italy’s cultural reputation would suffer. The post said, “The damage will be inflicted on Italy itself, which undermines its own authority and hospitality.”
Gergiev, speaking to Russian state news agency Tass, claimed he had not been officially informed of the cancellation.
