Caserta – Valery Gergiev's concert at the Royal Palace of Caserta will be cancelled. After weeks of controversy, the management of the Vanvitellian Ensemble announced in a terse statement the cancellation of the event, scheduled for July 27th as part of the "Un'Estate da Re" (A Summer for a King) festival. This decision sparked mixed reactions, from the Minister of Culture's applause to the protests of the Russian Embassy, not to mention criticism from Governor De Luca, who had strongly supported the performance of the conductor, known for his closeness to Vladimir Putin.
The Royal Palace's decision: "An independent choice."
The decision was made by Tiziana Maffei, director of the Reggia , in a move that surprised many. "The management has ordered the cancellation of the concert," reads the official statement, without further explanation. But behind those few lines lies a heated debate that has divided institutions and public opinion for days.
Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli immediately distanced himself: "The choice is the Palace's, not mine," he clarified, while expressing his "full support" for the decision. "Art is free, but propaganda is another matter," he added, emphasizing that the event had by now become a political issue.
De Luca against everyone: "Demagogy"
Vincenzo De Luca, however, didn't like the move. The governor of Campania, the festival's main funder, had staunchly defended the concert, calling for "dialogue for peace" and attacking those who opposed it: "If we're shocked by a concert, why don't we talk about the children dying in Gaza?"
But the pressure was too much. Controversy was also sparked by the appeal of Yulia Navalnaya, widow of dissident Alexei Navalny, who urged Italy not to host Gergiev, calling him "an accomplice to Putin's criminal policies." An online petition garnered 16.000 signatures in 24 hours, while several Nobel laureates signed a letter of protest.
Moscow's anger and political reactions
The Russian embassy in Rome also sounded the alarm, branding the decision "damaging to Italy": "Anyone who thinks it's a direct attack on Russia is mistaken," it said in a statement. "This will only undermine the reputation of a country that should be open to culture."
Meanwhile, in Italy, the cancellation has divided political circles. FdI, Azione, Più Europa, and the PD applauded, while the M5S spoke of "dark times," and the League, with Vannacci, quipped: "If he's any good, I'd even have him play in the European Parliament."
Protests cancelled, but debate remains
The decision comes after the Prefecture and Police Headquarters had prepared for possible protests, with front-row tickets purchased by Ukrainians and Russian dissidents. Tensions now appear to have subsided, but the burning issue remains: to what extent can art be separated from politics?
One thing is certain: on Sunday evening, the courtyard of the Royal Palace will remain silent. And while some will wave European flags in victory, others will continue to wonder whether it was a choice of principle or convenience.
Meanwhile, Gergiev assures: "I knew nothing." But now, his concert is just a missed opportunity.
It's sad that an event like this was canceled. Music shouldn't be influenced by politics, yet I see controversy surrounding certain artists. Let's hope an agreement can be reached in the future.