In life I often feel like we have to follow our gut instincts on things. Within music selection I've often learned that first little niggling of doubt is usually the one you should listen to. If you've had enough of one that you're coming and asking this question I would listen to it and not play that one this year. Our local Wind Symphony is doing Russian Christmas Music on Sunday, and there's that little thing in the back of my head about it. That being said knowing the history and origin of the piece, I'm thinking if it's introduced correctly it works itself out.

Steppes... maybe? Moscow, given it's extreme pro-Russian storyline I wouldn't do at all. I also think it's pretty overplayed at this point. Also Brian was nervous enough about the reaction that he wrote a reaction piece to it last spring and donated proceeds to Ukraine. I think that in and of itself tells me the composer is uncomfortable with it.