Concerts scheduled for November featuring Dieter Bohlen on Lithuanian stages have been canceled, a decision linked to the artist’s controversial statements regarding relations with Russia. The former Modern Talking star recently expressed support for purchasing Russian resources, criticized the deterioration of German-Russian relations, and described Russia and Germany as a “dream team.”
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Bohlen, formerly of the iconic duo Modern Talking, was slated to perform on November 20th at the Svyturys Arena in Klaipėda and the following day at the Žalgiris Arena in Kaunas. Both concerts have been removed from venue websites and ticket sales have been halted.
Organizers have confirmed the ticket sales suspension. “Yes, the concert in Kaunas was canceled. After consultations with the organizers, we came to the conclusion that such an event should not accept place in our hall,” Mantas Vedrickas, Head of Event Organization at Žalgiris Arena, told Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT.
Although an official reason for the cancellations hasn’t been released, the decision appears to stem from Bohlen’s recent comments. The musician has been critical of the cooling relationship between Germany and Russia, advocated for purchasing Russian energy resources, and asserted that Russia and Germany formed a “dream team.” Bohlen has also previously criticized Western sanctions against Russia, and recently stated that “Ukraine has no chance against Russia.”
This marks the second concert cancellation for a foreign artist in Lithuania this week. On Thursday, a performance by Croatian cellist Hauser, scheduled for August in Vilnius, was also called off. The decision followed the musician’s posting of a video featuring the Russian melody “Kalinka” against the backdrop of the Kremlin and utilizing the colors of the Russian flag. The video sparked criticism, particularly from Ukrainian internet users.
Hauser explained that the recording was part of a project called “Music Connects the World,” in which he performs songs from various countries. Despite subsequently releasing a Ukrainian melody, the controversy persisted.
