Julia Davis

The recent performance of “Iolanta” at the Met was outshined by the high-spirited protests, accompanying Russian Conductor Valery Gergiev’s and opera singer Anna Netrebko’s performances in the West. Mariinsky theater musicians callously asked protesting Ukrainian artists: “When will you all die already [expletive]?” and exclaimed “Alaska will also be ours!” (play on words for the Russia’s distasteful annexation slogan, “Crimea is ours!”) Undeterred, protesters put on quite a show, inside and outside of the Met. Dressed in colorful costumes, they reenacted Anna Netrebko’s ill-fated donation to the sanctioned separatist leader, Oleg Tsarov. While the protesters’ musical act and a political message was a resounding success, critics lambasted Gergiev’s barely-rehearsed productions. They were also far from impressed with Netrebko’s waning vocal chops. A review of “Iolanta” bemoaned her poor performance: “Maybe it’s sentimentality that’s kept this role in Netrebko’s repertoire, because a...

Controversy continues to surround Russian conductor Valery Gergiev and opera singer Anna Netrebko. Both of them are close friends of Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin. Indeed, Gergiev and Putin are said to be Godfathers to each other’s children. Until the outbreak of hostilities in Gergiev’s home region of Ossetia, the conductor kept his political views to himself. He complained that the West attempts to politicize Russian composers for what he described as "propaganda wars" perpetuated by "boring people who don't hear the music." Contradicting his own stance, Gergiev chose to politicize his position when the Russian Federation invaded Georgia. The maestro openly supported Russia’s aggression, even though it meant betraying his native land. From that point forward, Gergiev used his celebrity status to promote his political views. His views could be summed up quite simply: no matter how draconian, the conductor blindly supports all of Putin’s policies. C...

Los Angeles protesters, who remained in police custody after being arrested in connection with demonstrations against the grand jury’s decision in Ferguson, Missouri, will be released in time for Thanksgiving dinner. On November 27, 2014, Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Chief Charlie Beck ordered that the approximately 90 people still jailed on Thanksgiving Day be released on their own recognizance. “We have every legal right to keep them until they post bail," LAPD Commander Andrew Smith told the Los Angeles Times , "but in light of the holiday … [Beck] called and said he wants everybody who is eligible for release to be released by dinner time." Before they can be released, protesters currently being held in jails, downtown Los Angeles, in the San Fernando Valley and South L.A. facilities, will have to sign a promise to appear in court. They won’t need to post bail. Any protesters with warrants out for their arrest will not be eligible for this release. The Los...