Concert promoters end cooperation with conductor Andres Mustonen
The State Concert Institute (Eesti Konsert) will no longer collaborate with Andres Mustonen after his performance in Russia. The organizers of the performance of Bach's St. John Passion on April 2 have also terminated their relationship with the musician.
Even though he is not employed by Eesti Kontsert, Andres Mustonen is the artistic director of the early music ensemble Hortus Musicus. The director of Eesti Kontsert, Kertu Orro, believes that collaboration with Mustonen is no longer possible.
"Eesti Kontsert's values are defined by high moral standards and commitment to the Estonian state. Andres Mustonen's actions and attitude have shown his disregard for these values. As a consequence of this insurmountable conflict of values and loss of trust, we will no longer collaborate with him," Orro said.
Orro will meet with Mustonen to discuss the future of Hortus Musicus and several Mustonen-related concerts on Monday.
All tickets for the Hortus Musicus concert "Journey to Jerusalem: Palm Sunday concert" ("Teekond Jeruusalemma. Palmipuude püha kontsert") in Tallinn's Väravatorn have been refunded.
The concert organizers decided to replace Andres Mustonen with Endrik Üksvarav.
Rene Hekkonens, spokesperson for the organizers, told ERR that no one doubts Andres Mustonen's talent as a conductor, but given the current circumstances, they have no choice but to replace him: "It is our responsibility to take a unified stance on the topic of Russia."
Andres Mustonen performed with pianist Ekaterina Metsetina and jazz trumpeter Vadim Eilenkrig in Novosibirsk, Russia, on March 19. Metsetina is a member of Putin's Culture and Arts Council and signed a petition in support of Vladimir Putin's policy in Ukraine and Crimea in 2014, according to Postimees (link in Estonian).
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Editor: Kristina Kersa
