Russia culture minister denies Tchaikovsky was gay
Vladimir Medina re-writes history to make two Russian heroes straight – Tchaikovsky and Rasputin assassin Prince Felix Yusupov
Photo by W-contact-an.
Russia’s Culture Minister Vladimir Medina has denied Tchaikovsky was gay – something even Putin accepts.
The sexuality of the country’s greatest composer is well documented but now Tchaikovsky is being forced back into the closet so the anti-gay government will support a biopic about his life.
The film’s screenwriter, Yuri Arabov, previously made headlines by stating ‘it is far from a fact that Tchaikovsky was a homosexual’.
He added in an interview with newspaper Izvestia: ‘Only philistines think this. What philistines believe should not be shown in films.’
Now Medina has told Russian news agency Interfax he agrees with Arabov.
Medina said: ‘And Arabov, by the way, is right – there is no evidence Tchaikovsky was a homosexual.’
He said Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was the ‘greatest composer’ and the film should focus on his ‘genius’ and ‘not about the rumors surrounding his biography’.
The minister’s view contradicts Russian President Vladimir Putin who appears to accept the composer was gay.
Denying Russia is abusing gay rights, Putin said of Tchaikovsky’s sexuality: ‘So what? There is no need to make a mountain out of a molehill and nothing terrible is happening in the country.’
Putin also remarked: ‘They say Pyotr Illyich Tchaikovsky was a homosexual. Truth is, we do not love him for it, but he was a great musician, and we all love his music.’
Medina used his wide-ranging Interfax interview to deny the sexuality of another gay Russian historical figure.
Prince Felix Yusupov is best known for helping in the near-mythical 1916 assassination of Grigori Rasputin, the Russian faith healer and confidant of the tsar.
Medina said: ‘Speaking of history: the same rumors circulated about Felix Yusupov, who dressed in women’s clothes and loved to go incognito. Then it turned out that he was fooling around.’
The interviewer questioned Medina further, pointing out in his own memoirs, Yusupov clearly hints at a relationship with fellow Rasputin assassin Grand Duke Dimitri Pavlovich, who was bisexual.
Medina responded: ‘And then, even if this is so – so what? For the state, in this case, the main thing was his human talent, his service to the country, the people, not privacy.’
Tchaikovsky composed six symphonies, 11 operas, three ballets and large volume of other works.
His homosexuality was suppressed first by 19th century Russian society, then by the Soviets for whom it didn’t fit with his portrayal as a cultural hero.
Towards the end of the last century, however, documentary evidence emerged that made his homosexuality clear.
Now Russia’s new laws against the ‘promotion of homosexuality’ may make it impossible for the government, cultural experts, historians and others, to recognize this aspect of his life.
Prince Felix also married and produced heirs for the usual dynastic reasons of the Russian ruling classes at the time.
The sexuality of the country’s greatest composer is well documented but now Tchaikovsky is being forced back into the closet so the anti-gay government will support a biopic about his life.
The film’s screenwriter, Yuri Arabov, previously made headlines by stating ‘it is far from a fact that Tchaikovsky was a homosexual’.
He added in an interview with newspaper Izvestia: ‘Only philistines think this. What philistines believe should not be shown in films.’
Now Medina has told Russian news agency Interfax he agrees with Arabov.
Medina said: ‘And Arabov, by the way, is right – there is no evidence Tchaikovsky was a homosexual.’
He said Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was the ‘greatest composer’ and the film should focus on his ‘genius’ and ‘not about the rumors surrounding his biography’.
The minister’s view contradicts Russian President Vladimir Putin who appears to accept the composer was gay.
Denying Russia is abusing gay rights, Putin said of Tchaikovsky’s sexuality: ‘So what? There is no need to make a mountain out of a molehill and nothing terrible is happening in the country.’
Putin also remarked: ‘They say Pyotr Illyich Tchaikovsky was a homosexual. Truth is, we do not love him for it, but he was a great musician, and we all love his music.’
Medina used his wide-ranging Interfax interview to deny the sexuality of another gay Russian historical figure.
Prince Felix Yusupov is best known for helping in the near-mythical 1916 assassination of Grigori Rasputin, the Russian faith healer and confidant of the tsar.
Medina said: ‘Speaking of history: the same rumors circulated about Felix Yusupov, who dressed in women’s clothes and loved to go incognito. Then it turned out that he was fooling around.’
The interviewer questioned Medina further, pointing out in his own memoirs, Yusupov clearly hints at a relationship with fellow Rasputin assassin Grand Duke Dimitri Pavlovich, who was bisexual.
Medina responded: ‘And then, even if this is so – so what? For the state, in this case, the main thing was his human talent, his service to the country, the people, not privacy.’
Tchaikovsky composed six symphonies, 11 operas, three ballets and large volume of other works.
His homosexuality was suppressed first by 19th century Russian society, then by the Soviets for whom it didn’t fit with his portrayal as a cultural hero.
Towards the end of the last century, however, documentary evidence emerged that made his homosexuality clear.
Now Russia’s new laws against the ‘promotion of homosexuality’ may make it impossible for the government, cultural experts, historians and others, to recognize this aspect of his life.
Prince Felix also married and produced heirs for the usual dynastic reasons of the Russian ruling classes at the time.
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