LONDON (AP) – A significant protest took place outside the Royal Opera House in London, where dozens of Ukrainians and their supporters gathered to voice their dissent against a performance by Russian soprano Anna Netrebko. The demonstration coincided with the opening night of Giacomo Puccini's opera "Tosca," highlighting the ongoing tensions between Ukraine and Russia amidst the ongoing conflict that erupted after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Demonstrators waved Ukrainian flags and held signs with powerful messages, such as "While Netrebko sings, Ukraine bleeds" and "Stop glorifying Russian aggressor culture." These slogans underscored the sentiment of many who believe that performances by Russian artists, especially in light of the current geopolitical climate, can be seen as celebratory of a culture that has been implicated in aggression against Ukraine.
Anna Netrebko, a prominent figure in the opera world and one of its leading soprano voices, has faced scrutiny for her past connections with Russian President Vladimir Putin, from whom she received an award in 2008. While she has continued to perform globally, she has not returned to Russia since the start of the conflict. The situation surrounding her career became even more complex when she was dropped by the Metropolitan Opera in New York in response to the invasion. Netrebko has since filed a lawsuit against the company, claiming discrimination based on gender and national origin.
Despite the backlash, Netrebko remains active in her career and recently made her first appearance in the United States in six years at a recital for Palm Beach Opera in February. However, her scheduled performances are still met with public concern. In fact, last month, a group of British legislators and figures, including former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, implored the Royal Ballet and Opera to cancel her upcoming appearances. Netrebko's recent performances for the Royal Opera would be her first with the company since 2019, and she is also slated to perform in Puccini's "Turandot" in December, followed by a recital in June.
In an interesting development, the Royal Opera House recently made headlines by scrapping its plans for a new production of "Tosca" intended for Tel Aviv next year. This decision followed nearly 200 staff and performers raising objections to performing in light of the ongoing war in Gaza, reflecting the complexities of cultural performances during international conflicts.
