Putin distancing
New York Opera maintains stance on Netrebko
How far has Anna Netrebko really distanced herself from Russian President Vladimir Putin? Photo: Georg Hochmuth/APA/dpa
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Soprano Anna Netrebko’s attitude towards Russia’s President Vladimir Putin was initially ambiguous, but the artist is now distancing herself. That’s not enough for the Metropolitan Opera.
Even after a clearer distancing from Russian President Vladimir Putin, the New York Metropolitan Opera does not want to resume working with star soprano Anna Netrebko, at least for the time being.
“After reading Anna’s message, we are not prepared to change our position,” said Metropolitan Opera director Peter Gelb of the German Press Agency in New York. “If Anna shows that she has distanced herself seriously, completely and in the long term from Putin, then I would be ready to have a conversation.”
The renowned Metropolitan Opera in Manhattan announced a few weeks ago that it would put its collaboration with Netrebko – and with all artists or institutions that support Putin – on hold in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The opera house asked Netrebko to withdraw her public support for the Russian president. The 50-year-old Russian had not done this, it was said. Netrebko then withdrew from planned upcoming appearances – including her role in “Turandot” in April and May and “Don Carlos” in the coming season. Yellow had spoken of a “great artistic loss”.
Netrebko distanced himself from Putin more clearly than before on Wednesday. «My position is clear. I am not a member of any political party nor am I affiliated with any leader in Russia,” she said through her German lawyer. “I recognize and regret that some of my actions or statements in the past could be misinterpreted. In fact, I’ve only met President Putin a handful of times in my life, most notably at awards shows for my art or at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.” You have otherwise never received financial support from the Russian government.