It has been said that the leaders of the former Soviet Union considered rock music to be an “infection” bringing “alien ideas” into the country. (Artemy Troitsky, Back in the USSR). Whether or not the desire to go to rock concerts undermined the political system behind the Iron Curtain, the large-scale sports and entertainment boycott contributed to Russia’s isolation.
Since the arrival of Russian troops in Ukraine this week, a new boycott against Russia has emerged, restricting Russia’s participation with the rest of the world by banning the country’s sports teams and cultural institutions from international events and competitions, in addition to some international artists canceling or postponing tours.
The Eurovision Song Contest, which in the past has refused to allow any political gestures in the competition, has banned the Russian delegation from this year’s event in Turin, Italy.
The Bolshoi Ballet’s residency at the Royal Opera House this summer has been canceled and Russian conductor Valery Gergiev has been fired by the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra for refusing to denounce the invasion.
Artists including Franz Ferdinand, Yungblood, AJR and Louis Tomlinson with planned tour dates in Russia have decided to cancel or postpone concerts there in protest. And US band Green Day posted on its Instagram account, “With heavy hearts, in light of current events we feel it is necessary to cancel our upcoming show in Moscow at Spartak Stadium.”
Additional artists who have been impacted include choreographer Alexei Ratmansky, whose home town is Kyiv. He has left Russia where he was working on a new piece for the Bolshoi Ballet and headed to New York where he is in residence with ABT. He was also working on another project in Russia for the Mariinsky Ballet in St Petersburg, which has also been postponed. His Facebook page shares many statements from artists in support of Ukraine.
As well as the political boycott, a number of other US and western artists and arts organizations have canceled events in Ukraine for safety reasons.
While some tour dates will be skipped, the impact on touring crews is expected to be limited as, unlike during the pandemic, the rest of the tour will go ahead.
Other arts organizations in the US have demonstrated their support for Ukraine, such as The Metropolitan Opera, which observed a moment of silence then performed the Ukrainian National Anthem before a performance of Don Carlos on Monday, February 28. The company has also cut ties with pro-Putin performers.