The 78-year-old singer and composer Yuri Antonov was quietly led off the stage with a white piano after delivering a performance at the Slavicianski Bazaar festival in Vitebsk, a moment that drew attention because his appearance had not been listed in the festival program. The audience gasped in surprise as the artist stepped onto the festival’s stage without the cane he has used for several years to manage leg pain, and then bowed in gratitude before continuing with the evening’s program in an unexpected turn of events.
Antonov’s surprise appearance unfolded under the gaze of the hall’s headline guest, with the artist crossing the stage to perform beside a white piano as if nothing unusual would follow. Moments later, after the performance concluded, he was escorted to the edge of the stage alongside the instrument, left the piano behind, and made his way backstage with careful, measured steps. Eyewitnesses observed his decision to leave the stage from the edge may have been driven by a flare of pain that intensified during the performance, prompting a cautious retreat from the spotlight.
The prolonged leg pain traces back to a serious injury suffered three years earlier, a condition that led Antonov to rely on a cane after his surgery. He pursued rehabilitation across several regions, including Europe, the United Arab Emirates, and China, in an effort to ease the discomfort. Despite these efforts, the pain persisted and offered little relief, restricting his public appearances and gradually shaping his daily routine. In recent years, the artist has spent substantial time at his estate, finding solace in his animals and personal space rather than frequenting crowded venues.
There were reports that a Chinese healer had not succeeded in alleviating the leg condition, a note that has circulated publicly and contributed to the ongoing discussion about the best paths for relief in his later years. Antonov has consistently spoken about the challenges of mobility and the impact of long-standing pain on his ability to tour and perform with the same energy as in earlier decades.
Earlier, another veteran performer, Ivan Krasko, who is 92, was described in connection with a medical diagnosis of brain damage. The broader context of these reports underscores the delicate balance aging artists navigate between enduring artistic passion and the physical limits that come with time and prior injuries.