In an interview with Izvestia, Dutch organist Jean-Pierre Stivers discussed the possibility of relocating to Moscow, revealing a personal affinity for Russia and describing the country as a second homeland. The dialogue paints a portrait of a musician who not only cherishes the artistic life Russia offers but also contends with the practical realities that come with international movement and family life.
Stivers acknowledged that the move is complicated by citizenship issues. Neither he nor his partner holds Russian citizenship, and Hiroko Inoue, his wife and fellow organist, remains a Japanese citizen. This legal fact creates hurdles for planning a cross-border relocation, underscoring how political and bureaucratic factors can shape the trajectories of artists who are otherwise drawn to a country’s cultural habitat. He observed that the absence of a shared citizenship makes logistics more challenging, noting that even a single common path forward would simplify the decision-making process for the couple.
The musician elaborated on the personal strain created by their international careers. The couple maintains a highly itinerant professional life, balancing concert schedules with family commitments across continents. Stivers spends most of his time in the Netherlands, while Inoue performs in Russia, and their son is based in Japan. This tri-continental arrangement, though manageable in the short term, highlights how modern artists often juggle professional demands with evolving family dynamics. Stivers expressed hope that they will eventually be able to live together in Moscow or another city that can serve as a stable home base for the family, signifying a future where career and personal life align more harmoniously.
The dialogue also touched on the broader realities faced by expatriate musicians who maintain strong ties to multiple cultural spaces. The possibility of relocating is not only about career opportunities and audience reach but also about creating a home where all family members can thrive. Stivers’ reflections reveal a deep commitment to both his art and his family, suggesting that the decision to move is as much about emotional well-being as it is about professional advancement. The hope for a unified residence underscores a universal theme among international artists: the dream of a place that feels like home, even when work spans several countries and continents.
Meanwhile, another notable development in the international music scene was the reported decision by a former Italian pianist blogger, Bagnati, to move to Russia. This announcement adds a layer of context to the ongoing conversations about relocation and cultural exchange within the global arts community. It suggests that Russia’s cultural landscape continues to attract artists from diverse backgrounds who seek to engage with its concert life, audiences, and artistic networks. The discussions around these moves reflect a broader trend of cross-border mobility in the performing arts, where artists weigh citizenship, residency, and family commitments alongside the allure of a vibrant cultural capital.