American rapper Kanye West has always felt great warmth toward Russia ahead of his upcoming concerts in Saint Petersburg on October 10 and 11, according to concert agency executive Anna Subcheva.
Subcheva, who serves as chief executive officer of concert organizer Say Agency, disclosed details of the musician's attitude in comments reported by Telegram channel Mash. She said West consistently spoke positively about the country long before dates for the two autumn shows were formally announced.
The rapper revealed plans for his arrival to his Russian friends prior to the official announcement, Subcheva said. The early disclosure created concern among event organizers, who feared that information about the shows would spread before formal statements were ready.
Subcheva added that team members heard numerous warm memories concerning West's mother, who was a passionate admirer of Russian poetry. She emphasized that West regards Russia as a nation toward which he has held longstanding personal warmth.
Concert venue and technical requirements
The update follows earlier statements from Subcheva regarding the complex logistics required for the upcoming performances. She revealed that West's technical rider for the Saint Petersburg dates turned out to be extraordinarily complicated.
The choice of venue was made jointly by organizers and the artist's team. Subcheva stressed that West's representatives place a strong emphasis on audience comfort, which led directly to selecting Gazprom Arena due to its fully closing roof capability.
Background on the artist and venue
Kanye West is an American hip-hop artist, record producer, and fashion designer who first rose to global prominence in the early 2000s. Saint Petersburg is Russia's second-largest city and a major cultural center located on the Baltic Sea coast.
Gazprom Arena is a modern sports and entertainment stadium located on Krestovsky Island in Saint Petersburg. The venue features a retractable roof and climate control technology designed to host large-scale music concerts and international sporting events.
