"It's stupid to combine politics and culture": conductor Fabio Mastrangelo on his career in Russia and pressure from the West

- You have been living in Russia for a long time and in this difficult situation you decided to stay.

How did you make this decision, was it difficult?

Was there any pressure from your Italian friends, colleagues? 

- This is the 21st year that I have been living in Russia permanently.

I joked for a long time that I was trying to live in St. Petersburg, to which people thought it was difficult to live there.

I say: “No, they just won’t give it, there are a lot of tours.”

I would like to be at home a little more often.

Of course, there were problems at the very beginning of this process (special operations. -

), there were many calls asking if I would return to Italy.

The answer was: "Definitely not, I will stay in Russia."

I didn’t even have any doubts: the family is here, the work is here, everything that I wanted from life, I got, first of all, in Russia.

I can boast that for any conductor a career in Russia costs two or three times as much, because the number of talents that live here exceeds all the norms of the world.

To be famous, to achieve a high career here is just a sign.

Above all, I support the views of our President, so there was no doubt that I am here, here forever.

Of course, I hope that everything will pass, and our relations with Europe, the USA and so on will return at least to the level that was before February 24, but in principle I am ready here (to stay. -

) in any situation.

— You probably know such a thing as cancellation culture.

Aren't you afraid that it will spread to you in the West because of your decision to stay in Russia?

- I would not want people to fall for such nonsense - it seems to me that this is inappropriate.

But we understand that politics sometimes dictates some... I know that most people, at least artists, are absolutely against it.

Therefore, if such a strong will comes from people (comes from -

) - everything will pass, this movement cannot live long.

• Fabio Mastrangelo

• Legion Media

- You said that you have been living in Russia for 20 years.

Have your views on the country changed during this time?

- Changed, yes.

It got even better than before.

It's one thing to love when you more or less know the culture, because you read literature, played music (I conducted a lot of Russian music), and another thing is when you live.

Unlike many people, even those who were born in Russia, I travel around the country a lot - this is my job - so I know cities that most Russians have not visited.

I am glad that for 20 years I have been watching the country grow.

Everywhere the standard of living is getting better and better, and you can play music knowing that more and more people can afford a ticket to go to your concerts.

It is very important to know and understand that this is also valuable for people: in Europe they are losing viewers, but in Russia we are gaining.

I think this is a positive trend that we can prove.

- Nevertheless, some citizens of European countries left Russia after the start of the special operation.

Some of them openly condemn her.

Why do you think this is happening?

- You know, it's hard to discuss what people think about themselves.

We could see some benefit in this.

I don't live like that.

It seems to me that an artist can live only when he looks in the mirror and recognizes himself.

As I have said many times before, I could not afford to leave the country that I love very much.

It's hard to tell what they thought.

I respect their point of view, how else?

We are very democratic people.

The actions of these people are not very similar to democracy, so it is somehow strange when they show signs that say "democracy" but act differently.

I wish them to study the meaning of the word democracy more deeply.

“So many musicians and athletes face huge pressures abroad.

They have to make a choice: condemn Russia or refuse to participate in international events.

How do you like this policy?

- I can only compare.

If earlier they began to demand from people some comments about the actions of the United States, then there would not be a single artist left in the world who would like to conduct, sing or dance there.

If there is a problem with Russia, then with America it is a hundred times bigger.

I think it's stupid to combine politics and sports, politics and culture, and so on.

We must live our lives, hope that culture can unite (us. -

), and not force such a process when a person has to speak out against or for someone in order to do his job.

It is nonsense.