Is Valery Gergiev Being Scapegoated for the Kremlin’s Anti-Gay Policies?

As head of St. Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theater and a famously tireless globe-trotter, Gergiev is Russia’s leading conductor and arguably its most prominent living musician. He is also the cultural figure most closely identified with Vladimir Putin. Consequently, it is Gergiev who is constantly targeted with protests in the West over Russia’s treatment of its gay citizens. Mark Swed considers whether this is fair.

Is Valery Gergiev Being Scapegoated for the Kremlin’s Anti-Gay Policies?

As head of St. Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theater and a famously tireless globe-trotter, Gergiev is Russia’s leading conductor and arguably its most prominent living musician. He is also the cultural figure most closely identified with Vladimir Putin. Consequently, it is Gergiev who is constantly targeted with protests in the West over Russia’s treatment of its gay citizens. Mark Swed considers whether this is fair.

These Are The Books That Would Have Been In The Public Domain In 2014 (But Won’t Be)

“No published works will enter our public domain until 2019. The laws in Canada and the EU are different – thousands of works are entering their public domains on January 1. What books and plays would be entering the public domain if we had the pre-1978 copyright laws? You might recognize some of the titles.”