The Annapolis Symphony Orchestra has canceled its collaboration with Russian violinist Repin
The Annapolis Symphony Orchestra in the U.S. has canceled its planned collaboration with Russian violinist Vadim Repin and decided to change the program for its upcoming concerts. Earlier, the Ukrainian Embassy in the U.S. had called for the musician’s performance to be canceled.
The orchestra stated that, under the current circumstances, continuing the collaboration with Repin is impossible and would not be in the best interest of the audience.
Performances featuring Vadim Repin were scheduled to take place on November 6 and 7 at Maryland Hall. The Russian violinist was set to perform Dmitri Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No. 1.
Following the decision to end the collaboration, the orchestra plans to revise the concert program. They promise to announce the updated program later.
Tickets already purchased will remain valid.
The Annapolis Symphony Orchestra also expressed hope that a collaboration with Repin might take place in the future. They stated that the orchestra and the musician allegedly share a desire to end the war.
The Ukrainian Embassy in the U.S. welcomed the decision to refuse collaboration with the Russian musician.
Denis Senik, Ukraine’s Chargé d’Affaires ad interim in the U.S., emphasized that Russia uses cultural diplomacy as a “soft power” tool, attempting to project a positive image of the country amid the war against Ukraine.
Ukrainian diplomats had already called for Repin’s performance to be canceled on August 26.
The embassy also noted that in February 2024, Repin performed with the state orchestra at a concert organized by a Kremlin-affiliated foundation.
It was not only Ukrainian diplomats who demanded the cancellation of Repin’s performance.
Back in June, American activists launched a petition calling for his performance with the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra to be prevented.
Thus, the orchestra’s decision was the result of a prolonged public debate surrounding the Russian musician’s participation in American concerts.
The Annapolis Symphony Orchestra was not the first ensemble to refuse to collaborate with Vadim Repin.
Previously, the Mannheim Philharmonic in Germany and the Palm Beach Symphony Orchestra in Florida had refused to hold performances featuring him.
In addition, a ballet performance in Florence featuring Repin’s wife, Svetlana Zakharova—a prima ballerina at the Bolshoi Theater and a former member of the Russian “United Russia” party—was canceled.
Consequently, Vadim Repin’s planned concerts in Annapolis will not take place in their original format, and the orchestra is preparing a revised program for its November performances.
This is stated in a press release from the orchestra.
Prior to this, the Maggio Musicale Theater in Florence canceled two performances of the ballet “Pas de Deux on Toes and for Toes” featuring ballerina Svetlana Zakharova and musician Vadim Repin.
