Vienna (OTS) – Clarification in the conflict over concerts at the Vienna Festival: The one conducted by Oksana Lyniv Kaddish Requiem “Babyn Jar” will be performed as planned on June 2nd in the Vienna Konzerthaus. The one announced under the direction of Teodor Currentzis War Requiem by Benjamin Britten on June 12th at the Burgtheater is canceled. For the Vienna performance of Kaddish Requiem In addition, a current contemporary Ukrainian piece will be composed and performed.
Music and its political and moral dimensions play a key role in the 2024 festival. Festival Week Intendant Milo Rau on this: “We welcome the committed and critical inquiries that were triggered in advance by the announcement of two concerts that deal with war and genocide as well as with understanding and reconciliation: Kaddish Requiem „Babyn Jar“conducted by Ukrainian conductor Oksana Lyniv together with the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra, and War Requiemunder the direction of the Greek-Russian conductor Teodor Currentzis with the SWR Symphony Orchestra.”
With the successive but artistically completely independent performances directed by Lyniv (June 2, Vienna Konzerthaus) and Currentzis (June 12, Burgtheater), both of whom have inevitably acted as representatives since the beginning of the Russian armed forces’ war of aggression against Ukraine of their respective countries, the question of responsibility and the limits of art as a utopian space should be addressed at this year’s festival, also in the context of parallel discussion events.
In discussions over the last few days it has become clear that presenting both concerts as part of the Vienna Festival is currently not possible. As artistic director Milo Rau emphasizes at various points, this is… Kaddish Requiem represents a central position in the 2024 festival program that he would like to hold on to. After consultation with the SWR Symphony Orchestra, we decided to do this War Requiem under the direction of Teodor Currentzis. The Kaddish Requiem will take place as planned on June 2nd in the Vienna Konzerthaus.
Steward Milo Rau: “Our decision, on Kaddish Requiem is clear and we look forward to the visit of Oksana Lyniv and the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra in Vienna. As much as we would have welcomed the exciting comparison of the two works as part of the 2024 Vienna Festival program, which consciously questions political and social positions in many artistic positions, it was ultimately no longer feasible for the Ukrainian artists involved and we respect Lynivs Desire not to be placed in a contextual context with Currentzis at the moment. Unfortunately, this meant that there was no alternative to our decision to cancel the planned concert conducted by Teodor Currentzis, whom we highly value as an artist. We wish the SWR Symphony Orchestra and Teodor Currentzis on the planned tour with the War Requiem much success through Germany. We see the contributions to the discussion over the last few days as the beginning of a challenging but necessary debate, which we will continue at many points as planned during the 2024 Vienna Festival. But ultimately what matters is not our curatorial intentions, but rather that all artists feel comfortable with their work with us.”
Oksana Lyniv on this: “We are happy that the Vienna Festival has found a solution and are very happy about it Kaddish Requiem „Babyn Jar“ finally performed in Vienna. Everyone involved is really looking forward to this special concert on June 2nd in the Vienna Konzerthaus.” For the Vienna performance of the Kaddish Requiem There will also be a current contemporary Ukrainian piece by a student of Kaddish Requiem „Babyn Jar“-Composer Yevhen Stankovich.
SWR program director Anke Mai (Culture, Knowledge and Young Formats) on the cancellation: “I very much regret that the SWR Symphony Orchestra’s concert at this year’s Vienna Festival has now been canceled by the festival management. Nevertheless, I understand that Oksana Lyniv and the members of the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra would have liked Teodor Currentzis to publicly declare his opposition to the Russian war of aggression. Given the consequences that such a commitment would have for Currentzis in Russia, we never asked him to do so. And with the performances of War Requiem by Benjamin Britten In June of this year, the SWR Symphony Orchestra and Teodor Currentzis sent a message that cannot be misunderstood. Everyone involved would have liked to bring this message to Vienna. Nevertheless, we accept the decision of the Wiener Festwochen and hope to see you again in more peaceful times.”
All tickets already purchased will be canceled and the amount will be refunded. This happens automatically; it is not necessary to contact Festwochen to process it.
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