DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

19 October 2025
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Election 2025
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Election 2025
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
    • Food & Drink
    • Ask us anything
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

Rotterdam Philharmonic cuts ties with Russian conductor Valery Gergiev

March 1, 2022
Princess Beatrix meets Valeri Gergiev in 2013. Photo: Jan de Groen
Princess Beatrix meets Valery Gergiev in 2013. Photo: Jan de Groen

The Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra has cut its ties with Russian conductor Valery Gergiev because he has refused to condemn the invasion of Ukraine.

Gergiev has worked closely with the orchestra for decades and the news means the Gergiev Festival planned for September, will not now go ahead.

‘There was contact with Gergiev last night and the divide is unbridgeable,’ the  orchestra said in a short statement.

Describing the decision as painful from a musical perspective, the orchestra’s board said it is the only option. Gergiev, 68, has conducted the orchestra as both guest and chief since 1988.

The Munich Philharmonic has also severed its ties with the Russian as has the Scala in Milan, the Festspielhaus in Baden-Baden and the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg.

In 2014, Gergiev signed an artists’ appeal that supported the annexation of Crimea and in which he stated his clear support for Putin’s political views.

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Uncategorized
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Show more
The big election issues: climate change and the environment
Hundreds gather for Amsterdam's second "No Kings" protest
Election watch: VVD says no again; fewer women candidates
Dutch intelligence services now share less information with US
Podcast: The Ratterdam Night Watch Edition
NewsHomeEconomyElection 2025Art and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2025 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you with up-to-date news about this month's Dutch general election.

Our thanks to everyone who donates regularly to Dutch News. It costs money to produce our daily news service, our original features and daily newsletters, and we could not do it without you.

If you have not yet made a donation, or did so a while ago, you can do so via these links

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now