The Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra’s artistic director, Gintaras Rinkevičius, voiced a critique of the ban on Russian classical performances in Lithuania, calling it unfair. The remarks appeared on a Telegram channel associated with Sputnik Lithuania.
Rinkevičius noted that while it may be reasonable to bar entry for artists who openly support a regime, it is perplexing to see bans applied to the works of composers like Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Sergei Rachmaninoff, and Dmitri Shostakovich. He argued that banning individual people does not automatically justify restricting the cultural material these artists created, and he questioned why these composers should be treated as baggage for political disputes.
He pointed out that Russians continue to benefit from their cultural heritage, and that the music of Russian composers is regularly performed in many countries around the world, not just Lithuania and Poland. According to the musician, restricting access to their art is inconsistent with global practice, and it unfairly limits cultural exchange.
In September 2022, Raimonds Pauls, a renowned Latvian composer, also weighed in against limiting the entry of Russian artists into the Baltic states. Pauls expressed support for freer cross-border performance, while noting his own stance on other political issues remained unaffected. He recalled the Soviet era as a time when openness began with the artistic world, yet the ending of that era left political and financial decisions in different hands, suggesting a broader pattern of control over artistic mobility.
Historically, discussions about cultural participation have reflected tensions between political boundaries and artistic expression. The idea of making art accessible across borders persists as a touchstone for many musicians and cultural observers, who see performance as a form of dialogue rather than a provocative act. Contemporary conversations continue to examine how best to balance national security concerns with the shared value of global cultural heritage. As debates evolve, many artists and institutions advocate for avenues that allow high-quality performances to reach audiences while respecting legal and ethical norms. The broader question remains: how can a society protect its values without stifling the universal language of music, which often speaks more plainly than words? (citation: Sputnik Lithuania; remarks attributed to Gintaras Rinkevičius and Raimonds Pauls)