In this piece, Steve Vettese addresses a concerning behavior involving Alex Klein, former principal oboist of the Chicago Symphony and Calgary Philharmonic, who sought and announced an autism diagnosis only after being terminated from his Calgary post.

Gergiev and Netrebko are not being “canceled” for their Russian identity. They are being criticized for actively and repeatedly promoting an authoritarian state’s violence, lies, and territorial aggression. In the arts, platforming is power. A podium is not neutral ground—it is a place of influence, a place where narratives are validated, history is shaped, and moral legitimacy is either reinforced or revoked.