First she hesitates, then opera diva Netrebko distances herself from the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. Several venues had already canceled performances by the 50-year-olds. But now she is returning to the stage.
After appearances in Monaco and Paris, the Russian star soprano Anna Netrebko, who was criticized for her hesitant attitude towards Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, wants to sing in Germany again. She will come this year with her husband Yusif Eyvazov for concerts in Regensburg, the Cologne Philharmonic and the Hamburg Elbphilharmonie, among others, according to a statement. Performances in Frankfurt am Main, Vienna and Malmö are to follow in the coming year.
After the beginning of the war, Netrebko temporarily withdrew from concert life. Several opera houses had canceled performances by her. In Paris, the 50-year-old was enthusiastically celebrated on Wednesday evening after her concert in the Philharmonie. She had interpreted works by Rachmaninoff, Debussy and Tchaikovsky.
The Ukrainian embassy reacted to the appearance with severe criticism. That the concert could take place is outrageous. The dissonance between French public opinion supporting Ukraine and the hypocrisy of audiences applauding the Kremlin soprano is sad, the diplomatic mission tweeted. A few dozen demonstrators had demonstrated against the concert in front of the Paris Philharmonie.
Netrebko was already on the stage of the Monte Carlo Opera in Monaco last month. After the start of the war in Ukraine on February 24, Netrebko initially showed hesitation, but then expressly condemned the war against Ukraine. Netrebko lives mainly in Austria.
