A spokesperson for the cellist and conductor told the New York Times that a report in Moscow's Izvestia about his departure was accurate. That article said that Rostropovich was angered by the quality of the orchestra's performance and by the fact that the singers did not know their parts. In addition, according to the Times' translation of the article, "the composition of the orchestra was constantly changing and everything that was achieved at the last rehearsal with one group had to be reworked with the next."

The first three performances of the production, scheduled for December 6, 7, and 8, have been canceled. It will now premiere on December 9 under the direction of Alexander Vedernikov, the Bolshoi's chief conductor.