Australian tenor Andrew Goodwin spent a lengthy period of study in Russia, which makes the invasion of Ukraine an especially difficult time for him. Along with a line-up of Sydney’s finest musicians, he’s taken upon himself to organise a concert raising money for much needed relief work. Clive Paget caught up with Goodwin to talk Putin’s Russia, the need for action and why Russian music mustn’t become a victim of politics.


What were your first thoughts when Russia invaded Ukraine back in February?

I was initially in shock. I presumed that the military build-up over the previous months was Putin posturing to get as much leverage as he could out of the negotiations with the West and Ukraine. I didn’t think he would risk everything by invading.

Andrew Goodwin

Tenor, and concert organiser, Andrew Goodwin

I know you studied in Russia. Does that make this doubly difficult for you? And do you recognise the Russia in which you studied as the Russia of Vladimir Putin?

It is extremely difficult. I spent the most formative years of my life trying to assimilate into one of the world’s richest and diverse artistic cultures on...