Surprisingly, the Russians aren’t really enthused about Madonna coming to their country to perform a loud – and one could assume raunchy – concert. Madge is scheduled to perform in St. Petersburg in August – right in front of the Hermitage Museum. And the museum’s director is going all-out old school in his attacks, practically bitching about kids and sex and rock and roll in his hissy fit over Madonna’s concert.

MADONNA is planning a concert in the main square of St. Petersburg, Russia, home of the Hermitage Museum, in August. Local authorities — the ones who haven’t yet been bribed — are up in arms, branding the event a “natural disaster,” and the museum’s director Dr. Mikhail Piotrovski said, “We want guarantees that there will be no blasphemy.” Maybe Madge should think twice about wearing those ugly horns she sported Monday night at the Met. Piotrosvki will also demand Madonna sign an agreement limiting volume levels.

[From Page Six]

I’m thinking there might have been a little translation issue with the whole “natural disaster” comment. Though the NY Post seems to be having a good time poking fun at it. Perhaps Piotrovski meant “national” disaster? Or was simply trying to convey that – to him – this is a huge, huge debacle in the making.

I’m wondering what kind of guarantees he wants about the blasphemy. Blasphemy is one of those terms that I wouldn’t trust to Madonna’s definition. He might want to get that n writing. And really… what right does a museum director have to tell Madonna what to do? It’s in front of his museum, not inside it. I’m sure the Russian government will be all over her with rules, but why does this guy think he gets to dictate her show?

Regardless, I wouldn’t really trust Madonna to stick to the rules. Even at half a century old, she’s still a rebellious teenager. You tell her not to do something… she’s going to do it, and twice as big as she would have otherwise.

Madonna is shown performing in Vancouver, Canada on 10/31/08. Images thanks to BauerGriffinOnline.