Toulouse. Resignation of Tugan Sokhiev: the reaction (and clarification) of Jean-Luc Moudenc
By Lucie Fraisse
Published on
His reaction was eagerly awaited, and the Russian conductor did not take half measures. Via a letter made public on Sunday March 6, 2022, Tugan Sokhiev is part of his decision to resign from theToulouse National Capitol Orchestra and his duties as director of the Bolshoi Theatera Moscow.
Moudenc wanted to continue the collaboration
Two programs directly related to the war in ukraine. At the beginning of the week, Jean-Luc Moudenc, had invited the Russian leader to speak “on the current situation” in front of the Toulouse people. “He knows that we are regularly questioned, especially as twin city of Kyivby the press, the spectators, the musicians on his vision of the news “, explained then the mayor of Toulouse.
In a translated letter to the Russian leader on March 2, 2022, Jean-Luc Moudenc also specified his wish to continue the collaboration with Tugan Sokhiev, “as musical director until the end of this season, then conductor emeritus from the next season, as we have agreed in our discussions over the past few months: we in series very honored. »
A wish to which the Russian chef therefore did not follow up, preferring to put an end to his Toulouse adventure.
“This news saddens me”
In a reaction sent to the press at the end of Sunday, the mayor of Toulouse took note of the resignation of the Russian leader: “I respect the will of Tugan Sokhiev of end our collaboration 3 months in advance – which was due to end in June – with the Orchester National du Capitole. This news saddens me, especially since it was I who first appointed him to lead our orchestra. ”
“I have always thought, like Tugan Sokhiev, that art, and music in particular, are universal languages, bringing people together. Also, we never expected or, worse, demanded of Tugan that he makes a choice between his native country and his city of heart, Toulouse. It would have made no sense.”
Bisbills around the Musicales Franco-Russes
In his letter, the mayor of Toulouse also returns to a sentence from Tugan Sokhiev’s letter. The conductor indeed evokes the fate of the Franco-Russian musicals, a festival he created in the Pink City and which will not take place in 2022: “This festival is today contested by the authorities of the city of Toulouse. That’s a shame ! I believe that this festival can do more by building bridges than by political words. »
A wording that made Jean-Luc Moudenc react, who denounces an “irrelevant and inaccurate” message. Before continuing: “Tugan Sokhiev knows perfectly well that the choices made on this subject several months ago exclusively of a legal nature, to avoid conflicts of interest, and which we had recently decided, by mutual agreement with him, to withdraw its mention of the documents relating to the musical season, because of the current context. »
the mayor of toulouse swears that the cancellation of the festival “does not therefore proceed from a political intention” or from a negation of Russian culture “which has brought us so much”.
“European literature would not be what it is without Pushkin and Tolstoi, and how can we imagine music without Tchaikowski or Prokofiev?”
Leader Support
A clarification that does not prevent the mayor of Toulouse from “warmly” thanking Tugan Sokhiev “for these many years of collaboration, which have been attributed so much to the Orchester national du Capitole, to the public and to Toulouse. » Before concluding « I know the emotion that this news will provoke, not only among the faithful public, but also among the musicians of our orchestra, whom I want to assure of my support. »
Was this article helpful to you? Note that you can follow Actu Toulouse in the My Actu space. In one click, after registration, you will find all the news of your favorite cities and brands.