star soprano
Netrebko criticizes Putin’s war – no appearance in Russia
Anna Netrebko has only lost appearances in the West – and now also in Russia. Photo: Hans Punz/APA/dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
Because of Russia’s war against Ukraine, opera star Netrebko is confronted with a series of concert cancellations. First the big stages in the west turned away from her. Because she now, after some hesitation, condemns the invasion, she also gets into trouble in her home country.
After her statement against Vladimir Putin’s attack on Ukraine, soprano Anna Netrebko has now fallen out of favor at an opera house in her native Russia.
A concert in Novosibirsk scheduled for June 2 was canceled, the opera in the Siberian metropolis announced. The reason is a message from the artist in which she condemns the actions of “our state”. “Life in Europe and the opportunity to perform on European stages are more important to them than the fate of their homeland,” said the statement from the State Academic Theater for Opera and Ballet.
Anyone in Russia who criticizes Putin’s war against Ukraine lives dangerously and can be punished with heavy fines or even imprisonment. Netrebko, who lives mainly in Austria and also appears in Russia at the world-famous Bolshoi Theater and at the Mariinsky in St. Petersburg, should have a hard time with engagements at home after her criticism. Many prominent cultural figures have left Russia for fear of their safety. Putin had said now was the time to find traitors and cleanse the country of them.
Birthday party in the Kremlin
In September, when Netrebko was allowed to celebrate her 50th birthday in the Kremlin, the president raved about Netrebko’s internationally admired singing skills. He praised Netrebko, who had already supported him in the presidential election, as “an open, charming and kind-hearted person with a life-affirming character and a clear position as a citizen”. Russia is proud of Netrebko, who was considered the country’s friendly face in the world. But that’s probably over now.
The theater in Novosibirsk decided not to make its stage, hall and orchestra available to the organizers of the concert. “We are convinced the truth is on our side. We shouldn’t be afraid that there are creative artists who are turning their backs on their homeland. Our country is rich in talent, and the stars of yesterday are being replaced by others with a clear stance as citizens.”
After the war began on February 24, Netrebko was hesitant at first, but then spoke out against the war. That was considered remarkable because the word alone is frowned upon in Russia. Kremlin chief Putin calls the unprecedented and extremely bloody invasion a “special military operation”. On Wednesday, Netrebko distanced himself more clearly from Putin after Western houses canceled appearances. «My position is clear. I’m not a member of any political party, nor am I affiliated with any leader in Russia,” she said through her German lawyer.
Performances in Europe at the end of May?
The star soprano in colorful outfits is currently posting pictures of her time off and her travels on her Instagram channel. “I love my home country, Russia, and only strive for peace and unity through my art,” she said through her lawyer. After an announced break from performing, she wants to resume opera and concert performances in Europe at the end of May.
However, the President of the German Theater Association, Hamburg Senator for Culture Carsten Brosda (SPD), does not consider her distancing from Putin to be credible. First she lets herself be photographed with the East Ukrainian separatist leader Oleg Tsarev together with the “New Russia flag”, then she celebrates her 50th birthday in the Kremlin. “Do that and then let the lawyer claim that you are not political? You sell your own audience for stupid, »said Brosda in an interview with the Hamburger Abendblatt. Accordingly, he is critical of the catch-up date planned for September for a Netrebko concert in Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie.
“I don’t think it would be good if this concert took place.” After the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops, several concert halls canceled performances by Netrebko, including a concert planned for early March at the Elbphilharmonie. Brosda said, “Where artists are close to the Putin system or have enjoyed privileges through this closeness and are unable to behave reasonably, there is no basis for further cooperation”. That also applies to Netrebko.