In the second of Netrebko’s three dates as Mimi in Puccini’s La Bohéme, the packed house cheered her first aria so loudly and enthusiastically that if there were boos, they were impossible to hear. The mixed reactions are symbolic of her current performance life. Considered by many to be the greatest living soprano, Netrebko has for more than a decade been able to sell out operas around the world at the mere mention of her name. But since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, attention has shifted away from her singing and focused more on her perceived closeness to Vladimir Putin. New York’s Metropolitan Opera pulled Netrembko from Turandot in April, replacing her with a Ukrainian soprano. Other invitations dried up. The Netrebko debate was part of a wider debate in the arts, culture and sports about how much individual Russians should be held accountable for their government’s actions. The soprano’s supporters have highlighted her condemnation of the war in a statement she issued in March. “I unequivocally condemn the war in Ukraine and my thoughts are with the victims of this war and their families,” Netrebko wrote at the time. He said he had only met Putin on a few occasions and added: “I am not a member of any political party or allied with any leader of Russia.” Vladimir Putin awards Anna Netrebko the honor of People’s Artist of Russia during celebrations for the 225th anniversary of the Mariinsky Theater in 2008. Photo: Dmitry Lovetsky/AP Others note that she carefully avoided direct criticism of Putin in the statement and later expressed her disappointment at being forced to speak at all. The statement was enough to provoke outrage in Russia. “He has a voice, but no conscience,” wrote Vyacheslav Volodin, the Duma speaker, describing Netrebko’s words as “treason.” A concert in Novosibirsk was cancelled, as the theater accused her of being more interested in ticket sales abroad than in the “fate of the motherland”. Netrebko has not visited Russia since then. That’s proof enough, her supporters say, that she’s gone to great lengths to oppose the war. Miguel Esteban, its director general, said: “She has already put herself, her family and friends living in Russia at risk by saying she condemns the war and specifying the limited extent of her relationship with Vladimir Putin. To go even further and condemn Putin would be too much to ask of her.” Bogdan Roščić, general director of the Vienna State Opera, agreed. “Ms. Netrebko condemned the war in very clear terms” in March, he said, and was therefore welcome to sing at the theater. Roscic also warned against forcing Russian artists to condemn the Russian government. “No one can exist outside of politics. I also reject the idea that highly gifted people should be forgiven for things that lesser mortals are responsible for. But that’s not the same thing as interpreting the duty of artists to lead for morals or to have those morals endorsed by mobs on Twitter,” he said in written responses to questions. Many agree with Roščić. In May, Netrebko sang to a full stage at Milan’s La Scala and slowly re-emerged in programs across Europe. But she is not welcome everywhere. A recent concert in Stuttgart was canceled after local authorities refused to allow it to go ahead. More specifically, the Metropolitan Opera has made a very public statement that Netrebko will not be returning. The Ukrainian flag is draped outside the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center in New York before a benefit concert in March. Photo: Ron Blum/AP “It is inextricably linked to Putin,” its chief executive, Peter Gelb, told The New York Times in June. “He has proven it ideologically and practically over a period of years. I don’t see any way we could do a backflip.” The public attack has angered Netrebko, who has filed a labor complaint against the Met through the American Guild of Musical Artists. “There was a perception issue and he had to deal with that. But he did it voluntarily. it’s not because some gentleman at the Met asked for it,” Esteban said. Netrebko began her career at the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg, whose director, Valery Gergiev, called her “godfather in music.” The conductor has been a staunch supporter of Putin for years, on several occasions playing concerts for the Russian military. Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Netrebko has been photographed with Putin on occasion, such as in 2008 when she was awarded an honorary title by the Russian president. She has long been an Austrian citizen and resident, but her name was on a list of cultural figures who supported Putin’s election in 2012, and in 2014 she donated money to the Donetsk opera house in Ukraine when the region was controlled by Russian proxies. Vladimir Putin is joined by Anna Netrebko, Placido Domingo, Valery Gergiev and Sergei Ivanov at the opening of the Mariinsky II Theater in 2013. Photo: Sasha Mordovets/Getty Images The singers were grateful for the help, but Netrebko posed with a separatist politician and flag when making the donation, sparking controversy. He later said he didn’t realize what the flag meant. The images resurfaced and sparked fresh controversy after the invasion in February. Liudmyla Monastyrska, the Ukrainian soprano who replaced Netrebko in Turandot at the Met, said she wanted to be able to sing but was frustrated by her ambiguous attitude. “I don’t think you can just be evasive and say you’re out of politics. I was also very far from politics and all these political games for many years, but now we have a terrorist state and you have to choose a side,” Monastyrska said in July, where she was singing with the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra. group of musicians from all over Ukraine that had been formed for a special world tour. Netrebko performs during the 27th annual Victoires de la Musique Classique in Metz, France, in February 2020. Photo: Christoph de Barry/AFP/Getty Images Monastyrska said she spoke with Netrebko in Naples in the days before Putin’s invasion, as both sopranos were singing the part of Aida at the city’s opera house. Talk of war was in the air and Netrebko had said she really hoped there would be no conflict. “Then, then, not saying anything in public is strange… I think Anya should have said something right away, on the first day. She’s the No. 1 soprano in the world, and it takes her a month to say anything clearly, and then she takes half of it back.” In Vienna on Sunday, it was clear that for many in the audience, Netrebko’s voice still trumps her political views. When he came back on stage at the curtain call, they stood up and shouted. Netrebko clutched her hands over her heart, visibly excited, and enjoyed the applause.
