Conductor and music director Arthur Arnold has resigned from the Moscow Symphony Orchestra.
“In good conscience, I have to make a statement about a painful, unnecessary war,” said Arnold. “My only conclusion that I came back to after looking at the pros and cons and possibilities is I have to be able, at the end of the day, to be true to myself.”
Arnold said the Moscow Symphony Orchestra is an independent organization that has never received any state support, but he did not want to carry on as the symphony’s musical director.
As a bit of history, Arnold said the Moscow Symphony Orchestra was founded by two sisters who were dissidents of Russia in the 1970s.
“They fled to the United States, they got their American citizenship and they thought they could never return to Russia,” said Arnold. “Then, there was Gorbachev and glasnost, and the unthinkable happened. The sisters returned to Russia and started the Moscow Symphony Orchestra independently with support from the west.”
Even with no governmental connection to the symphony, Arnold said he had to take a stand.
“It makes the decision so difficult because it is not a Putin-supported orchestra,” said Arnold. “If it was, it would be easy,” said Arnold. “I’m hit hard. I’ve been watching the news for the whole week and reading everything. It’s so unthinkable that Putin invaded Ukraine.”
Arnold said for him, it’s the right decision, but he said the symphony orchestra is like family. He said his first concert dates back to 2001.
“I’ve grown as a conductor with them and thanks to them,” said Arnold. “It’s been a big part of my artistic life.”
“I believe in the power of music and the connection through music,” said Arnold. “That’s what makes it so difficult because that’s what we do in Moscow, too; we reach people through their hearts and connect people. But it comes down to the bottom line that I have to be true to my convictions and condemn this war. It’s so unnecessary.”
Arnold said the little light he sees on the horizon is that the qathet region is going to receive 80 students here in the summer from all over the world at the Pacific Region International Summer Music Association (PRISMA), of which he is the artistic director.
“We will be playing together in peace,” said Arnold.
In a media release, Arnold stated: “It is with the greatest conviction and with an immense sadness that I resign from my position as music director of the Moscow Symphony Orchestra in Russia, effective immediately.
“My heart goes out to the people in Ukraine and everyone suffering from this needless war,” added Arnold. “I am proud to join with the countless people across the world who are raising their voices and taking a stand.”
