After Expulsion from New York Metropolitan Opera, Attempted Comeback Faces Difficulties
[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Woo-seok] Russian soprano Anna Netrebko, regarded as a world-class soprano, is facing restrictions on her activities both in her homeland and abroad, including the United States.
According to a recent report by The New York Times (NYT), Netrebko, who was expelled from the New York Metropolitan Opera (Met) following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has recently attempted to return to the U.S. stage, but the atmosphere is unfavorable.
The Met set conditions for Netrebko's return, including the end of Vladimir Putin's regime and a sincere apology from Netrebko. Peter Gelb, the Met's general manager, suggested a charity performance for Ukraine as an example of such contrition.
Netrebko has also been in contact with other institutions such as New York's Carnegie Hall, San Francisco Opera, and the New York Philharmonic, but there has been no positive response.
After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Netrebko posted an anti-war message on her social media but added that "it is not right to pressure artists or public figures to criticize their homeland or express specific political opinions."
In an interview with the German magazine Die Zeit published this month, she stated, "Putin is still the president of Russia, and I am still a Russian citizen," adding, "No Russian citizen can criticize Putin."
Subsequently, performances around the world in the U.S., Italy, Germany, and elsewhere were canceled one after another. Netrebko hired a public relations firm for celebrities in crisis and filed a labor contract complaint against the Met.
At the same time, she canceled a Russian performance planned by Valery Gergiev, a prominent pro-Putin figure in the classical music world, and ceased political statements on social media, showing awareness of global public opinion.
In March, she also distanced herself from Putin by saying, "I have only met Putin a few times."
This led to accusations of "treason" against Netrebko from Russian political circles.
Meanwhile, public opinion toward Netrebko has yet to recover. Last month, protests near the theater during her Paris performance shouted slogans such as "Netrebko is an accomplice to aggression," and during an April performance in Monaco, an audience member voiced protests related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and left the venue.
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