Thursday, 22 May 2025
America Age
  • Trending
  • World
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Real Estate
    • Money
    • Crypto & NFTs
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion / Beauty
    • Art & Books
    • Culture
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
Font ResizerAa
America AgeAmerica Age
Search
  • Trending
  • World
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Real Estate
    • Money
    • Crypto & NFTs
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion / Beauty
    • Art & Books
    • Culture
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
© 2024 America Age. All Rights Reserved.
America Age > Blog > Entertainment > Anna Netrebko Faces Backlash in Russia After Attempt to Distance Herself From Putin
Entertainment

Anna Netrebko Faces Backlash in Russia After Attempt to Distance Herself From Putin

Enspirers | Editorial Board
Share
Anna Netrebko Faces Backlash in Russia After Attempt to Distance Herself From Putin
SHARE

The Russian soprano Anna Netrebko, one of opera’s biggest stars, faced backlash on Friday in her home country after she tried to distance herself from President Vladimir V. Putin amid his invasion of Ukraine.

Ms. Netrebko issued a statement on Wednesday that appeared to be an attempt to revive her international career, which has crumbled recently because of her past support for Mr. Putin. In the statement, she condemned the war and said she was not allied with him.

In Russia, where Ms. Netrebko has a large fan base, her words were met with criticism. She was denounced on Friday as a traitor by Vyacheslav Volodin, a senior lawmaker who has been an outspoken critic of artists who oppose the war.

“You can’t call it anything other than betrayal,” Volodin wrote on his Telegram channel. “There is a voice, but no conscience. The thirst for enrichment and glory outweighed the love for the motherland.”

And the Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theater in Siberia canceled a coming appearance by Ms. Netrebko, saying she seemed more interested in her global career than “the fate of the motherland.”

“Today is not the time to sacrifice principles for more comfortable living conditions,” the house said in a statement on its website. “Now is the time to make a choice.”

Ms. Netrebko could not immediately be reached for comment.

Since the war started, Ms. Netrebko has faced a wave of cancellations around the world because of her ties to Mr. Putin. Her performances at the Metropolitan Opera — where she had sung for 20 years and become its prima donna — have been canceled indefinitely. Other leading opera houses, including in Munich and in Zurich, have also scrapped coming engagements.

In her statement this week, Ms. Netrebko sought to distance herself from Mr. Putin, saying that they had met only a few times. “I am not a member of any political party nor am I allied with any leader of Russia,” she said, describing herself as a taxpayer in Austria, where she now resides.

While she condemned the war in Ukraine, she did not explicitly criticize Mr. Putin, and did not directly address her record of support for him.

It remains unclear whether she will succeed in reviving her career. The day she issued her statement, the Paris Opera announced that she would star in a production of Verdi’s “La Forza del Destino” this fall. (Alexander Neef, that house’s director, said in a statement on Wednesday that the company was evaluating the situation.) The Met responded by saying it was not prepared to change its position; Peter Gelb, its general manager, said, “If Anna demonstrates that she has truly and completely disassociated herself from Putin over the long term, I would be willing to have a conversation.”

Ms. Netrebko once endorsed Mr. Putin’s re-election and has over the years offered support for his leadership. In 2014, she was photographed holding a flag used by Russia-backed separatists in Ukraine. In her statement this week, she said, “I acknowledge and regret that past actions or statements of mine could have been misinterpreted.”

Now, she risks becoming persona non grata in her homeland and abroad.

“She’s damned if she does, damned if she doesn’t,” said Simon Morrison, a professor of music at Princeton University who studies Russia. “She’s canceled for her years of pro-Putinism, then she critiques the war to save her international career, and then gets castigated at home for caring more about her gigs than ‘the fate of Russia.’”

Ivan Nechepurenko contributed reporting.

TAGGED:Netrebko, AnnaOperaPutin, Vladimir VRussiaRussian Invasion of Ukraine (2022)The Washington MailUkraine
Share This Article
Twitter Email Copy Link Print
Previous Article Russia’s Aggression Prompts Calls to Rethink U.S. Uranium Imports Russia’s Aggression Prompts Calls to Rethink U.S. Uranium Imports
Next Article World Cup Draw Highlights: U.S. Will Face England and Iran World Cup Draw Highlights: U.S. Will Face England and Iran

Your Trusted Source for Accurate and Timely Updates!

Our commitment to accuracy, impartiality, and delivering breaking news as it happens has earned us the trust of a vast audience. Stay ahead with real-time updates on the latest events, trends.
FacebookLike
TwitterFollow
InstagramFollow
LinkedInFollow
MediumFollow
QuoraFollow
- Advertisement -
Ad image

Popular Posts

Russian forces storm Mariupol steel plant; Pentagon says Russian gains ‘uneven … slow’ in eastern Ukraine: Live updates

Russian forces on Tuesday began storming the sprawling steel plant serving as the last holdout…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

Jameela Jamil slams social media filters: ‘God help the youth’

Actress Jameela Jamil took to Instagram to warn against the use of face-altering apps.The Good…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

A look at the world’s skinniest skyscraper: Steinway Tower

NEW YORK (AP) — One skyscraper stands out from the rest in the Manhattan skyline.…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

Video calls on an Amazon TV? Yes! I tried it and here’s how it went

We may receive commission from purchases made via links on this page. Pricing and availability…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

You Might Also Like

Diddy Trial Highlights From eighth Day of Testimony
Entertainment

Diddy Trial Highlights From eighth Day of Testimony

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
Hood-Pooping Suspect’s Authorized Woes Get Crappier, Lawyer Hopes Deal Drops
Entertainment

Hood-Pooping Suspect’s Authorized Woes Get Crappier, Lawyer Hopes Deal Drops

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
Kim Kardashian Graduates From Regulation Program, Wears Cap in Yard Ceremony
Entertainment

Kim Kardashian Graduates From Regulation Program, Wears Cap in Yard Ceremony

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
Former Diddy Worker Says He Set Up Resort Rooms With Lube, Child Oil, Candles
Entertainment

Former Diddy Worker Says He Set Up Resort Rooms With Lube, Child Oil, Candles

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
America Age
Facebook Twitter Youtube

About US


America Age: Your instant connection to breaking stories and live updates. Stay informed with our real-time coverage across politics, tech, entertainment, and more. Your reliable source for 24/7 news.

Company
  • About Us
  • Newsroom Policies & Standards
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Careers
  • Media & Community Relations
  • WP Creative Group
  • Accessibility Statement
Contact Us
  • Contact Us
  • Contact Customer Care
  • Advertise
  • Licensing & Syndication
  • Request a Correction
  • Contact the Newsroom
  • Send a News Tip
  • Report a Vulnerability
Terms of Use
  • Digital Products Terms of Sale
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Settings
  • Submissions & Discussion Policy
  • RSS Terms of Service
  • Ad Choices
© 2024 America Age. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?