Watch: Moscow Police disrupts concert featuring music by Ukrainian composer

When asked to halt by Russian authorities, a pianist performing a piece by a well-known Ukrainian composer remained defiant.

When Russian officers stormed the stage, Alexei Lyubimov was performing in front of an audience in Moscow. The pianist, however, instead of raising his hands and exiting the stage, proceeded to play the tune.

‘Songs against the times’ was the title of the performance, which comprised songs by Franz Schubert and Ukrainian composer Valentin Silvestrov.

Also Read|Not All The Russian President’s Men Are Sure Of Ukraine War, Doubt May Prove Fatal

Audience members rose to their feet and praised Lyubimov as he continued to play the piano while being surrounded by cops. The cops’ order to vacate the hall was disregarded by the audience.

Also Read|A 100 million voicemails: How a Russian lawmaker tried influencing Congress

The 77-year-old pianist was greeted with tremendous applause and a standing ovation from the audience, which had remained seated when police attempted to evict them before the musician’s performance ended.

Also Read|Russia and the US blame each other for rising food prices

Some acts of defiance turn violent, some elicit law enforcement responses, and still, others serve to spotlight resistance or define a movement that receives international acclaim. This is an example of one of such defiant acts.

Following the event, Russian officials claimed that the cops acted due to a false bomb threat. Unofficial accounts imply, however, that the concert’s programming was the real reason officials arrived to stop the recital.

Lyubimov was performing a piece by Valentin Silvestrov, one of Ukraine’s most recognised living composers.

Also Read|Ukraine jokes after Russian warship Moskva ‘f**ks itself’, sinks

The performance was widely regarded as an ‘anti-war’ event. However, there was no evidence of discontent or pro-Ukraine symbols.

According to various social media posts, a member of the audience may have called the cops to come and shut down the concert after Silvestrov’s composition was performed.

Also Read|Follow the Moskva, to the bottom of the sea? Ukraine sinks Russian flagship

While this may be true, what happened at the concert after the audience turned off their cameras remains unknown. What we do know is the courage it took Lubimov not only to programme Silvestrov but also to finish performing his music in defiance of Russian authorities.