How the Ukrainian national anthem was not heard in Athens
The Metropolitan Opera may premiere with the rebuttal of the Ukrainian national anthem, but the Greek musician does not suffer. The Symphony Orchestra of the Municipality of Athens refused, and in the end did not play the Ukrainian national anthem at the beginning of its concert at the Olympia Theater. The question is not only why this happened but also whether from now on every orchestra and choir of our country will determine its repertoire voluntarily.
Artists around the world, with the exception of many Russians, are taking a stand against Russia from the place where the war began. There are two ways to show support for the hard-working Ukrainian people. Stop all collaborations with official Russian state organizations and find artistic ways: a song, a poem, a poster.
What could be simpler than to hear the Ukrainian national anthem everywhere? It is the musical work that all Ukrainians embrace and that represents them more than anything else.
The Municipal Council of Athens, therefore, asked the Symphony Orchestra of the Municipality to perform this anthem and the musicians received the scores. There was no objection, on the contrary, until some trade unionists “created an episode in the Orchestra and the Choir, asking not to play the Hymn of Ukraine, but to play something else in favor of …” Peace of the Peoples “!” writes on his Facebook profile the musician Manos Epitropakis.
“I wanted the earth to open up and swallow me!” completes.
Unfortunately, the Ukrainian national anthem was not played. Mr. Epitropakis shouted “Long live Ukraine” and was applauded, but no one was ashamed of the ban, in essence, the rejection of the anthem of a country that is receiving war invasion. That is, from an act of cultural solidarity.
Not that it was not expected that something similar would happen. Ten days after the start of the war, the artists have fallen into a spring sleep and do not want to express their opinion. Who; Lalistatoi, say, as soon as the Minister of Culture cut off cooperation with Russian state organizations.
As it was very well written, who would have imagined that our artists and intellectuals would like to watch “Swan Lake” from Bolia live broadcast from the Concert Hall when there are thousands dead and over 1 million refugees? Would they also feel joy? Did not the -as much- money our country would give for this broadcast to one country that has entered another matter that they would go to a state with bloody hands?
From the beginning of the war, and as long as no one seems to intend to condemn him, we said to each other as a joke that artists and intellectuals have been late to express themselves and organize concerts for παγ world peace! Not for the victims of war, not for the confirmed, for all the victims of all wars. In fact. But does not the drama of the Ukrainian people, which is now suffering before our eyes because of televisions, pierce their hearts and consciences? Apparently not.
Everyone’s excuse is (roughly) that whoever interprets the Ukrainian anthem, or takes initiatives in favor of the Ukrainian people, gives… a message of war involvement of his country. And… the effort of the Mayor of Athens, is a continuation of the government actions to create a climate of nationalist polarization so that our country is actively involved in the war. As artists, they do not want, it is the rationale, for their art to serve the hatred between peoples. Not to be put in the service of one or the other camp. To serve man.
Let us, then, be mentally transported to March 1945 while the Allies have landed in Normandy (June 44) and the march to Berlin has begun, full of loud battles. And while the Red Army of the Soviets has also taken the Nazi phalanx on the other side, it has released the living – dead of Auschwitz and other camps, and is heading for the German capital, where it will be the first to enter.
Can one imagine that orchestras and artists around the world, free or liberated by the German occupiers, were neutral? How could they not dedicate performances and concerts to the Allies, who, at last, had managed to bend the giant war machine of the fascist Axis? How did art not serve Freedom and Democracy, so Man?
If art, then, was not militarized for peace (yes) but also for those who fought Nazism, it would be a shame that had never been washed away. She had enlisted with all her forces. I am reminded, characteristically, of the wonderfully moving moment in “Casablanca” where Americans and French sing “Massaliotida” in a club to cover the “Lily Marlene” of the Germans. A scene that always brings tears to the eyes for the courage of all free people. For what only art can accomplish against warlords.
A lot has changed then, and the times, and the wars, and the artists. In case some have not noticed, things have changed. The Russian army is not the Red Army and it is not liberating, it is attacking this time. Mechanical simulations lead to tragic misunderstandings and mistakes. If one takes out party and / or ideological blinders, one will understand it immediately. What a pity, though. The artistic ranks of the Nation, with few exceptions, are typically slow.