at the National Opera in Kyiv on Sunday.But pausing performances by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, the composer behind the quintessential Christmas classic, is a big ask — and a late ask — for a country like the U.S., where, the Christmas season kicks off before the Advent calendar does.'s secure place as a seasonal tradition has made it into the crown jewel of every self-respecting troupe's repertoire — as well as its main moneymaker.
Internationally, ballet companies took a measured yet resolute tone, with many saying they wouldn't hire individuals associated with the Kremlin, but were stopping short of censoring composers.
This is what I’ve been worried about.
Democracy my friends. What a joke!
starting to think ukraine is full of shit 🤔
Why am I starting to feel like Zelensky just wants to be the new Putin?
No. This is art and no art should be banned. Just like books, no book should be banned. Russian culture should be preserved regardless of Putin and his war. Russian citizens are opposed to his war. There are much better ways to stop Putins destruction and war-machine.
😂 no
Now, without using cultural-Marxist terms, explain exactly who is being harmed by performances of the nutcracker. Does Russia get royalties? Or aren’t they putting their own dancers out of work? Why wouldn’t the Nutcracker be a vehicle for peace? Clown world.
Ban the name 'US' next since it's in the word 'Russia'
While Russia may have produced the Composer of the Nut Cracker, it is now owned by the entire globe. 😎 But I understand the sentiment.
I’m all about Ukraine kicking the shit out of Russia. But I’m not giving up my fave composer. I love The Nutcracker so much, the soundtrack is on my year-round playlist. How does Russia benefit from my listening to a CD I bought years ago?
Ukraine looks more and more like Hitler's nazi Reich.
This is just as extreme...
Idiot.
Wish they banned Scriabin instead.
Bruh
Nope, bigots
Nazis gonna Nazi.
No. Performing arts is off limits. Ukraine is not worth the loss the world would suffer.
This is stupid.
Surely, Tchaikovsky will feel offended wherever he is...
PUTIN WAR CRIMINAL
🖕🏻Ukraine
paz4u Ummmmmmmmm This is counterintuitive, considering I have tickets to see the UkranianBallet perform SLEEPING BEAUTY by the Russian reprobate, but incomparable genius composer, Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky. UkraineWillWin SlavaUkraini ❤️🌻🇺🇦🌻❤️
Y lol.
Smells sort of fascist.
Nope.
So, burning books is back in style?
Uhh, no. This is flat-out stupid. Denying kids *THE* roadmap to success in their ballet/dance careers world-wide is short-sighted at best, and as unhelpful as 'Freedom Fries.'
What’s Ukraine’s NEW culture? LGBT? -:) Russian Ballet Sean Lake is the best-:) Every country has unique traditions/culture! Russian people are very intelligent in arts,science and technology! i.e. List of Chemical elements/Periodic table by Russian- Dmitri Ivanovich Mendeleev!
Sorry to share this.
This is just silly. Tchaikovsky & much later George Balanchine (who really made this ballet famous in this country & was Georgian Amer) have zilch to do with the current situation in Russia. Who would we be punishing here? Children who love dancing in this pretty holiday ballet?
Good. I can't stand that show. Make something new... Be a good person. Evolve
Wow it’s like Ukraine is heavily influenced by fascism
This is the Ukraine's war strategy?
Silly idea for the departed artists.
What a joke.
Ukraine just banned the orthodox church
Culture minister
wait let's not be too hasty
Lol. Lmao. 🤡🤡🤡
nope, won't do it.
Lol no
Shostakovich was pro democracy.
Lmao this can’t be real.
It would be nice if elonmusk just gave us a thumbs down option so we can show our disagreement without comment 👎🏾
I was hoping for a Ukrainian victory at the start if this conflict, but they keep proving themselves to be quite Nazi-like after all. Perhaps Putin was onto something.
This is absurd, these McCarthy like measures don’t help anybody.
? 🤔
So the UKR ministry of culture is weaponizing the culture, got it!!
Let’s also boycott Vodka 🤪
Wow. The lack of empathy here is stunning. The Nutcracker is fun and a vital income stream. But remember, Russia asserts that Ukraine doesn't exist politically, historically or culturally. No wonder Ukraine wants no celebration of the invaders' culture. Be kind.
Heads of state and big business leaders commit grave harm, but we punish the people they harm. This strategy is upside down and is one reason why little has changed over hundreds of years.
That’s dumb.
oooo ... time hit him up on youtube before they unfairly remove anything of his.
The Left created this monster. Now they get to live with the results.
Oh for fucks sake....🙄
Ukraine is a fascist country doing fascist things. It won't be long before the Neo-Nazis in Ukraine, using the $105billion the US gave them, begins to unite the Neo-Nazi groups across Europe and elsewhere. Your propaganda is enabling this. The blowback will be unfathomable.
Remember when Russia defeated Hitler? Neither do any of these people.
Uhh, no. This is flat-out stupid. Denying kids *THE* roadmap to success in their ballet/dance careers world-wide is short-sighted at best, and as unhelpful as 'Freedom Fries.'
That’s ridiculous.
Is this the Babylon Bee?
Look, I support Ukraine over Russia in their fight for sovereignty but this is a dumb request. It's not like Tchaikovsky's family or Russia get any royalties from music that was composed over a hundred years ago.
'including The Nutcracker composer Tchaikovsky' Poorly written, , considering the composer has been long dead. Should have been 'including works by Russian composers, such as Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker.'
Culture minster? TELL ME that doesn't sound like a nazi government position! Obviously putin stands against the nazis! I give him a hearty Maga salute!
This is silly
Tchaikovsky's literally been dead for almost 130 years but somehow enjoying his works is supporting Putin's cause
No, his violin concerto in D major goes too hard. Also this is silly
hey otkachenkoua please just be normal, this is absurd and does nothing but make Ukraine look slightly more stupid
This is dumb. Don't do that, just focus on winning the war. Don't waste your time with culture bs.
Let’s boycott “War and Peace” next. Leonid Tolstoiy must have been a nut himself to see this coming from a hundred years away
I've been boycotting Tchaikovsky all my life and I don't need some russophobic culture minister for that
Allie’s would be better off shutting their borders to Russians
This culture czar needs to get a life. Boycotting 1812 Overture wouldn't be any different than boycotting the Stars and Stripes just because it shares colors with the Union Jack.
first of all, NO; second WTH does “weaponizing its culture” even mean…
Ridiculous
How dare you to boycott great Tchaikovsky?
Ukraine's allies call on Ukraine to temporarily replace the position of culture minister with a continuous loop of a 'Fiddler on the Roof' DVD.
Now that’s just silly. Boycott *living* Russian artists and athletes who support Putin. What do dead artists - without imperial associations, like Tchaikovsky - have to do with the current war? In case you’re not aware, Tchaikovsky’s family was from Ukraine.
Huh? 🤦🏻♂️
Not sure that's effective. However other boycotts are very appropriate. Don't blame minister, considering the situation, but better for us to promote Ukrainian culture than denigrate the Russian. Nutcracker is overplayed, however.
Sounds fascist
Caring less ans less about Ukraine. Zelensky is an actor. Tax dollars are being wasted. Democrat politicians are profiting on this corrupt foreign aid.
No. Art belongs to all of us.
Tchaikovsky was half Ukrainian though. Not that I'd expect a culture minister from a country whose sole modern cultural achievement is discovering new ways to hotwire a car to know that.
Ukraine is running our country and liberals as NPR are letting them.
I feel badly for any artists that would be hurt by this, but I feel worse for suffering and murdered Ukrainians.