Moscow, Bolshoi director resigns. We musicians are ambassadors of peace

The director of the Moscow Bolshoi Theater, Tugan Sokhiev, has resigned. Russian news agencies are reporting the news. Sokhiev, born in Vladikavkaz in 1977, had been directing the Russian theater since 2014, after serving as director of the Welsh National Opera and, from 2012 to 2016, director of the Deutsche Symphonie-Orchester. At the same time, Sokhiev also resigned as conductor of the Orchestre National du Capitole in Toulouse. The reasons were rendered by the now former conductor in a letter published by the Russian specialized website ClassicalMusicNews: the resignation is related to pressure Sokhiev received in connection with the war in Ukraine.

“I know that many people wanted to know my position on what is happening right now and were waiting for me to speak,” he said. “It took me some time to understand what was going on and to express the complex feelings that current events aroused in me. First of all, I have to say the most important thing: I have never supported any conflicts. I do not accept them in any form or manifestation. The fact that anyone could question my commitment to peace and think that as a musician I could ever support anything other than peace on our planet is shocking and offensive. During the various catastrophic geopolitical events that humanity has faced over the past two decades as my professional career has developed, I have always stood with my fellow musicians and we have always shared and expressed support and sympathy for all the victims of these conflicts.”

“This,” Sokhiev’s letter continues, “is what we musicians do: we express our thoughts through music, we say emotional things through music, we comfort those in need through music. We musicians are lucky to be able to speak this international language, which can sometimes express more than any words known to civilization. I am always very proud to be a conductor from a country as rich in culture as Russia, and I am also very proud to have been a part of French musical life since 2003. This is what music does. It connects people and artists from different continents and opposing cultures, heals people’s souls and gives hope for a peaceful existence on this planet. Music can be dramatic, lyrical, funny, sad, but never offensive! I was convinced of this thanks to the fruitful collaboration with the wonderful Toulouse orchestra. My fantastic team at the Bolshoi Theater proves this to me every time I conduct performances in Russia or when we tour with them in Europe. Both in Toulouse and at the Bolshoi Theater I regularly invited Ukrainian singers and conductors. We did not even think about our nationality. We loved making music together and being part of the music world. And today our position remains unchanged. That is why I started the Russian-French Festival in Toulouse: to show everyone that the peoples of France and Russia are connected historically, culturally, spiritually and musically, and that I am proud of this connection between our two great countries that I love. Today this festival is opposed by the authorities of the city of Toulouse. What a shame! I believe this festival can achieve more in establishing friendly relations than in political statements.”

“I cannot stand that my colleagues - conductors, actors, singers, dancers, directors - are threatened, treated disrespectfully and become victims of ’cancel culture,’” Sokhiev concludes. “We musicians are given an exceptional opportunity, performing and interpreting the great composers, to help preserve humanity, keep it kind and in mutual respect of people. [...] We musicians are ambassadors of peace. Instead of using us and our music to unite nations and people, they try to divide and ostracize us in Europe. Because of all the above, and being forced to face an impossible choice between my favorite Russian and French musicians, I have decided to resign as Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow and resign as Music Director of the Orchestre National du Capitole in Toulouse. It has been and will always be a great honor for me to know, work together and play with the artists and musicians of these two fantastic orchestras. I am proud of them.”

Pictured: Tugan Sokhiev

Moscow, Bolshoi director resigns. We musicians are ambassadors of peace

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