Elisabeth Leonskaja

This concert has been cancelled.

As a venue, Muziekgebouw Eindhoven follows the guidelines of our trade association VSCD (Association of Theatre and Concert Hall Directors). These guidelines state, among other things, that Russian and Belarusian artists are welcome as long as they have not actively expressed support for the invasion of Ukraine. The guidelines also state that publicly distancing oneself from the regime should not be required as a condition for cooperation due to the personal danger that this entails. We take this framework seriously because we believe it is important to act with integrity when it comes to the interests of musicians.

We understand that cancelling a concert can cause disappointment, for the audience as well as for the artist. Music connects people, and we therefore value the opportunity for as many people as possible to share that experience, especially in turbulent times. That is why we find it difficult to make a decision disrupting that connection.

In the case of Elisabeth Leonskaja, we have carefully considered all circumstances. She has been committed to young musicians for many years and has contributed greatly to making classical music widely accessible. She also states that she sees it as her duty to perform and mentor young talent and not to get involved in politics.

The extent to which the directive applies to Leonskaja is complex: despite her Russian background, she was not born in Russia and also has Austrian citizenship. Although she does not live in Russia, she has nevertheless chosen to perform in Moscow, where the theatre where she is performing has now decided to make tickets available free of charge to members of the army and their families.

Program

Schubert – Sonate D 958 
Schubert – Sonate D 959 
Schubert – Sonate D 960