Moscow pianist Polina Ossetinskaya was distraught when Russia invaded Ukraine last year. She vented her feelings of “her fear, shame and disgust” on social media and expressed her solidarity with Ukraine, where she performed frequently.
But unlike many artists, activists and intellectuals, Ossetinskaya, 47, said the Kremlin cracked down on freedom of expression and that any contradictions in the government’s statements about the aggression would be possible. Nevertheless, he decided to stay in Russia and lives with his three children. treated as a crime. She has faced the repercussions of her own views, with some concerts at her State Hall canceled and others suspended by authorities.
Moscow-born Ossetinskaya says her international career has also struggled because of her Russian identity. After the invasion, she lost some of her appearances abroad because the presenters were nervous about featuring the Russian public, she says. She says she often finds herself caught in a dilemma as a result, meaning she is viewed with suspicion both at home and abroad.
Ossetinskaya will perform programs by Bach, Handel, Purcell and Rameau. 92nd Street Y Saturday in New York, part of the sponsored five-city tour Cherry Garden Festival, to promote global cultural exchanges. This program explores Baroque masterpieces that have appeared in films such as The Godfather and The Talented Mr. Ripley.
Between concerts and rehearsals this week, she spoke about her opposition to war, the role of music in healing, and her decision to stay in Moscow. These are edited excerpts from the conversation.
You made the difficult decision to stay in Russia while criticizing the war. Why did you keep raising your voice?
This is a great tragedy that happens every day in my heart. Some of my friends say, “Forget this war with all your heart, it’s not your problem.” I think it’s our problem. Many of us did not initially expect such a result. Being Russian now is like being crucified in the eyes of many. But I know that there are Russians who are really against the war and against what is happening.
I want you to know that there are many such people in Russia. And they are in jail for their opinions and Facebook likes. And they lost their jobs and the freedom to express their opinions openly. I want people to know that there are a lot of good Russians, so to speak.
Worried about your own safety?
I was born in 1975 and remember the repression in the USSR. And I feel like I’m back in time. that makes me very sad. We have a lot of opportunities to grow and be part of the global community, but instead we are still repeating our story and it is not the best page of our story.
Now, due to the closure of large halls, we are giving private concerts in Moscow. I sincerely hope that I will not be put in prison because of my opinions and opinions. Every time I speak out about my feelings, I am being watched. All I need now is to be able to work, to be able to feed my children, and not to be afraid of being a political prisoner.
In March, Moscow authorities disrupted a concert where you and several other artists were performing works by Shostakovich and Mieczyslaw Weinberg.
During the performance, the police stormed the concert hall and reported that there was a bomb inside. And they asked everyone to leave. Then everyone went out into the street in the rain and the police came inside with bomb-sniffing dogs. And the audience stayed with me in the rain and nobody left. And when finally the police found no bomb, apparently we went back to the hall and continued the concert.
How did that experience make you feel?
In that moment, I was completely blown away. After months of struggling for the possibility of playing, it felt like it was interrupted. But I remembered those who thanked me for not leaving Russia. People write to me saying that they don’t feel abandoned because I’m here. Many artists have left.
At the beginning of the war, did you have any hesitation in speaking out?
On the first day of the war, I was making breakfast for the children and sending them to school, so I got up at 7:00 am. Then I opened my eyes and saw a friend’s post on Facebook that said: no! “I immediately understood what was happening. I couldn’t believe it was happening. I never thought I could be silent. I had to scream.”
What do you hope the audience will take from this week’s US tour?
Baroque music is so well suited to our times because it has so much drama, so tragic, so powerful, and at the same time so much comfort. It looks like it was written just now. The music I play makes us look at ourselves and gives us empathy and hope for those who are suffering, including myself. That’s probably what we need most right now. This program made a lot of sense when the war started. I want as many people as possible to listen to this music.
Do you think your words or music can make an impact?
I feel a little useless. I have no power to stop the war. I have no power to do anything to change things. But playing music and touching keyboards is the only thing I can do to solve my own pain and the pain of others.
It’s dangerous to say this now, but I have to say that I love Russia. I can separate Russia, my country, my motherland, the beautiful people who live there from the government and the people who make the decisions. I can tell one from the other, but it seems to others that I can’t.
Life isn’t just black and white like my keyboard. Rich in color and rich in shades. We must not forget people’s emotions and souls.
