Russian conductor Gergiev dropped from bill by Italy's La Scala

Russian Valery Gergiev will not conduct the orchestra at Milan's La Scala this week after he failed to condemn the invasion of Ukraine, the city mayor said on Monday.

Gergiev -- general director of the St. Petersburg Mariinsky Theatre and regarded as close to Russian President Vladimir Putin -- conducted "The Queen of Spades," an opera based on Alexander Pushkin's novel at La Scala on Feb. 23.

The show will run ‪until March 15 and the next performance will be on Saturday.

"I don't think he will be there, I think at this point we can rule it out," Giuseppe Sala, La Scala theatre board chairman and mayor of Milan, told reporters on Monday.

"The Maestro did not reply to us," he added.