Orchestra flap worsens as fill-in soloist quits

There is a new twist in the saga that is the Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s handling of controversial pianist Valentina Lisitsa. Now, the scheduled performances in which she was replaced earlier this week have been cancelled entirely — and her replacement partially blames the “mob-like behavior of her devotees.”

“In light of this week’s events, the TSO has taken a decision to remove Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2” from Wednesday and Thursday’s programs, the symphony’s website reads. The concerts will now focus entirely on Mahler’s Fifth Symphony.

Popular Ukrainian-born pianist Lisitsa was initially replaced after “ongoing accusations of deeply offensive language by Ukrainian media outlets,” according to the TSO. Torontoborn-and-raised pianist Stewart Goodyear was slotted in as Lisitsa’s replacement prior to the concerts’ cancellation Tuesday night. A statement apparently from Goodyear on his Facebook fan page Tuesday evening, however, stated that after being named Lisitsa’s fillin, “words of bile and hatred were hurled in my direction from all sides (and I was) bullied into declining this engagement.” Lisitsa had earlier stated on her own Facebook page that she’d been called a “paid Kremlin whore” for her views on Ukraine.

“Unfortunately, the current hostile tone of discourse from some members of the public has created uncomfortable conditions for our performers,” TSO president and CEO Jeff Melanson said in a statement.

In an interview Tuesday with Star columnist Martin Knelman, Lisitsa suggested the initial conflict was all based on a misunderstanding regarding her political views about the situation in Ukraine, which she expressed often on social media. With files Martin Knelman