US embassy urges American orchestra to cancel concert by Kremlin-linked violinist

Ukraine's embassy in the United States has publicly urged the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra to reconsider its collaboration with Russian violinist Vadim Repin, who is scheduled to perform in the orchestra's autumn concerts. The appeal was made in a statement posted by the embassy on social media.

The embassy said the decision to invite Repin raises serious concern given his documented participation in cultural initiatives supported by and connected to the Russian state.

The concerts and Kremlin ties

The concerts, titled "Forces of Nature," are planned for November 6-7 at Maryland Hall. The embassy recalled that Repin has previously performed at a concert organized by a Kremlin-linked foundation to honor Russia's "great defenders." It also noted that since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Repin's own arts development foundation has received substantial funding from Russia's so-called Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives.

The embassy said it hopes the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra will carefully consider these concerns and reaffirm the solidarity with Ukraine it showed in 2022, when it removed Repin from its program and replaced his performance with a musical tribute to Ukraine.

Other cancellations

The embassy noted that several cultural institutions have already reviewed their cooperation with Repin, including the Mannheim Philharmonic Orchestra in Germany, the Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Palm Beach Symphony in Florida, which cancelled his performance in March. Earlier, thanks to efforts by Ukraine's embassy, Repin's appearance was also cancelled in Budapest at the opening of the Hungarian National Philharmonic's season.