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The Ukrainian Embassy in the United States has urged the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, the capital of Maryland, to cancel the performance of Russian violinist Vadim Repin.
On November 6-7, the orchestra announced concerts “The Power of Nature” at Maryland Hall, where Repin is scheduled to perform Shostakovich’s First Violin Concerto.
“The decision to invite Mr. Repin raises serious concerns, given his documented participation in Russian state cultural initiatives,” stated the embassy’s announcement, published on Facebook.
The Ukrainian Embassy reminded the orchestra that in 2022, it removed Repin from its program. The embassy also noted that in March, Repin’s performance was canceled by the Palm Beach Symphony in Florida, the Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Mannheim Philharmonic Orchestra (Germany).
Vadim Repin is married to Russian ballerina Svetlana Zakharova, who has been on the Ukrainian sanctions list since 2023. Although Zakharova was born in Lutsk, she built her career in Russia, becoming a prima ballerina of the Bolshoi Theatre. In 2014, she supported the annexation of Crimea, and in 2024, she became a trusted person for Russian presidential candidate Vladimir Putin. Since 2026, Zakharova has been the rector of the Moscow State Academy of Choreography.
Photo: facebook.com/annapolissymphony
- Last year, the performance of Russian conductor Valery Gergiev, which was supposed to be his first concert in the West after the full-scale war in Ukraine began, was canceled in Italy.