Munich has published a letter from Maestro Valery Gergiev to the city's cultural advisor, Hans-Georg Küppers.
In the boldface words below, you'll find Gergiev noting his full support of the city's anti-discrimination laws:
Once again I would like to return to our yesterday’s press conference.
In this press conference you mentioned.
“For the city of Munich it applies that any exclusion, discrimination or harassment of people because of their gender, origin, color, religion, disability or sexual orientation must not occur. Ways of behaviour that contradict these principles will not be tolerated.”
I fully support this attitude of the city of Munich. In my entire professional career as an artist I have always and everywhere adhered to these principles and will do so in the future. All other allegations hurt me very much.
In addition, I think it is useful to have a conversation with the community during one of my next stays here in Munich.”
Valery Gergiev
After disruptions outside his recent Carnegie Hall concert and in London, Valery Gergiev--music director of the London Symphony Orchestra, the Mariinsky and one of the most in-demand and influential conductors in the world--has finally broken his silence.
It is not clear that anyone at all informed about the issue seriously thinks Gergiev ever was homophobic. And a look at many of the musicians whom he has employed, and indeed who owe their careers to him, very quickly reveals that his casting has been solely based on musical merit. But the crowds wanted a statement.
And now, they have another one.
