Lucerne piano professor performs despite criticism in Russia

Although it will be -12 degrees this week in Siberian Novosibirsk, the response to e-mails from the West is not very cool. We sent it to Swiss pianist Konstantin Lifschitz: he is a professor at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU) and has recently performed twice at the Transibirian Art Festival. We asked why he performed at a wartime festival where Vladimir Putin greeted him from the program.

Lifschitz replied very directly – and personally: “Best regards from Vadim Repin (violinist and festival artistic director), Oleg Bely (festival director) and from the entire organizing team here in Novosibirsk. You told me about your stay, which was fully funded by the festival (travel, accommodation and extensive parties). All invoices are also present. The festival took place immediately after the annexation of Crimea. I am attaching your article.”

In fact, I was in Novosibirsk in 2014, spent long evenings discussing with the journalists and asking: “Explain Putin, tell me more about this festival system!” Nothing was heard from the official staff, so from the start they said, “Friends, we have no problem with your questions, we can talk about anything. But you also know that music is non-political!” I have written many critical things.

Later, by invitation, I went to Sochi, Kazan and St. Petersburg – until I realized that it was all the same scam. Putin gives his artists festivals that are paid for by oligarchs and corporations that (must) be close to him, greets himself from the program booklet and greets Russia.

Visit from Moscow to Novosibirsk

Nothing was apolitical, even if the local governor, who supported the festival with a million euros at the time, said a bit stubbornly: “We are far away and independent from Moscow”, adding that he was joking. Probably better that way. Then, as now, Vladimir Putin saluted from the first page of the thick festival program. It was clear: the Trans-Siberian Art Festival was also a prestige object: Deputy Prime Minister Olga Golodets, number two behind Dmitry Medvedev, was flown in for the second concert evening.

Back to Lifschitz. In a second letter he answered my simple questions, but first came clear words, such as Lifschitz JW v. Goethe: “Technology in alliance with the absurd is the most terrible enemy of art.” The pianist from Lucerne later became clearer: «Without music and without culture there is no peace. All those who want to prevent my concerts are therefore warmongers to me. » He was reminiscent of the Russian opera singer Anna Netrebko, who, after criticizing her, described the critics as “human shit” (she supported Putin, posed with a separatist leader in eastern Ukraine with the Novorussian flag, never took one renounced, celebrated her birthday in the Kremlin and then condemned the war in Ukraine).

The university does not give instructions where you can go

Lifschitz finally refers in his motivation to a letter from the HSLU dated 1 March. There are no instructions requiring one to have pre-announced, approved or disapproved of activities in Russia, Ukraine or anywhere else to the school. Rightly so, we think, because every artist must decide for himself where he wants to play – it’s a matter of morality, not of legality.

Lifschitz also confirmed that the festival is not under Putin’s patronage. He did not know that Putin said hello from the program booklet, he only focused on the two links for his two concerts. He then emotionally explains his actions: “I gave concerts in Moscow during the war because it is very important to me to support the people there with devastating melancholy as the catastrophic attack unfolded, with music and giving a sign of hope. people are not at all close to the regime.” Since he has had a collegial relationship with festival director Vadim Repin and his team since 2014, and since the Belgian ambassador was also present at his concert on Saturday (“flown in from Moscow especially for this”), he saw no reason to cancel the performances.

My question about the lack of the concerts on his website surprised him: “I don’t know what this has to do with the current explosiveness and problems.” Since the lockdown and the cancellation of many concerts, his manager has not filled in the calendar very accurately, for example there will be a concert in Moscow in September 2022, but certain performances in Germany, Poland or Italy will be missing.

In summary, Lifschitz writes that he, who was born in Ukraine and grew up in Russia, only wants peace for his two countries: “As a Swiss citizen, I value the history and neutrality of our Switzerland from the time of the world wars to the present time and the attempt to spread the cheerful Attitude to other nations as well.”

Valentin Gloor, director of the HSLU, when asked if he would tolerate a performance by Lifschitz in Novosibirsk, his media spokesperson said: “Until your inquiry, we knew nothing about Konstantin Lifschitz’s concerts at the Trans-Siberian Festival and find them in the context of the current situation and the support of the festival by President Vladimir Putin. We have contacted Mr. Lifschitz. After his return, we will clarify outstanding questions in a conversation. Until then, we cannot say anything further about the performance.”

There was no hesitation in Estonia this weekend. When it was announced last week that Andres Mustonen (1953), an Estonian music legend – comparable to Heinz Holliger in Switzerland – would perform at the Novosibirsk festival, just like Lifschitz, Eesti Kontsert (the state concert organization) canceled its cooperation with him. (aargauerzeitung.ch/cpf)