The embassy is urging the orchestra to cancel Repin’s forthcoming guest appearance, citing his links to Russian state-backed cultural institutions
The Embassy of Ukraine in the USA has called on the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra (ASO) to cancel Russian violinist Vadim Repin’s appearance in its Forces of Nature concerts, scheduled for 6 and 7 November at Maryland Hall.
In a statement on social media, the embassy said Repin’s participation raised concerns because of his involvement in Russian state-sponsored and state-linked cultural initiatives.
It cited a February 2024 performance with the State Kremlin Orchestra at a Defender of the Fatherland Day concert organised by the Kremlin Foundation, as well as funding received by the Vadim Repin Foundation for the Development of the Arts from Russia’s Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives.
The embassy also noted that several organisations, including the Mannheim Philharmonic Orchestra, the Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra and Florida’s Palm Beach Symphony, have ended planned collaborations with the violinist in recent years.
It urged the ASO to ’give these concerns careful consideration’ and pointed to the orchestra’s decision in 2022 to withdraw Repin from a programme and replace his appearance with a musical tribute to Ukraine.
The ASO said in a statement that ’unequivocally condemns the atrocities committed against the Ukrainian people by the regime of Vladimir Putin in its unprovoked and unlawful war of aggression.’
Regarding the orchestra’s decision to replace Repin in 2022, it said the decision was made in response to the rapidly unfolding circumstances of the invasion at the time, when cultural organisations were working out how to respond to Russia’s actions and the implications on Russian artists. The orchestra said its decision was not based on a determination that Repin supported Putin or the Russian invasion.
The ASO has stated its has since reviewed Repin’s public record to determine if he has personal support for the Russian government and Putin, and that it has found no evidence.
The Strad has reached out to Repin’s management for comment.
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