Anna Netrebko’s cash goes a long way in Donetsk

Anna Netrebko’s cash goes a long way in Donetsk

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norman lebrecht

December 16, 2014

The soprano has taken down a post on her Facebook page, explaining why she gave a million roubles ($19,000) to the opera house in war-torn Donestsk, handing the cheque to a pro-Russian separatist in front of a separatist flag. The incident has caused her no end of distress.

In Donetsk, meanwhile, the money has been handed out to singers and staff at the opera house. Each received 1,000 rubles ($19). None has received a pay cheque since July.

The theatre’s new chief executive, Yevgeny Denisenko, expressed thanks for the ‘noble gesture’. His predecessor dropped dead two months ago.

donetsk opera

Comments

  • Milka says:

    Poor thing she is distressed …..she aligns herself with thugs that have caused upheaval and death in the Ukraine.She then pretends this so called
    humanitarian gift is in the
    service of art .Since when is refurbishing scenery a humanitarian
    gesture?And Denisenko calling this
    a “noble gesture ” is laughable , from
    under which rock did he emerge ?
    Perhaps Netrebko might pause and think of the inumerable deaths caused
    by the action of her bosses before
    she waxes poetic and engages in noble gestures. It might impress the
    muzhiks back home but much of the world are not russian muzhiks.

    • Olga says:

      Ms Milka you are very mean and cold hearted. Anna wanted to help needy people of art as she also belongs to the world of art. Her bosses are people of theater and musik, not politicians who caused that war, and probably you do not know that Anna is not a pop singer but opera star and she sings arias composed not only by Russian composers, but mostly by Italians and French composers and Mozart.

    • alex says:

      Milka, so Netrebko is bad, however, the corrupted even more than previous government with so-called president chocolate oligarch which came into power as the result of the coup and has been killing their own citizens since is from your point of view what Ukraine was waiting for years?

  • Max Grimm says:

    I do not remember where I read it in (I shall attempt to find the article) but I do remember reading that part of the money was to be used to buy medications for and provide financial support to the opera house’s ensemble and staff.

  • David Conway says:

    Er…this evening it’s only $14,400, Norman…….

  • Maria Los says:

    She is a staunch Putin supporter

  • Manfred Gerber says:

    We need more Netrebkos, Conductors, Singers, Artists
    In total who show solidarity with their colleagues in
    many Eastern countries.
    Instead of bashing this wonderful singer I look for
    more wealthy Artists to join her.

    • Olga says:

      I totally agree with you, Manfred. Thank you for your comment.

    • Howard Haimes says:

      Manfred and Olga,

      I agree with you completely. It really bothers me to see so many ill-informed and nasty people on this blog. Anna is a great artist with pride of her upbringing and motherland. People should not profess to know anything about her political leanings or inclinations. Besides, which who cares? Just let her sing her glorious sound for many years to come.

  • norman lebrecht says:

    chief executive of Donestk Opera and Ballet

  • Milka says:

    Howard I suspect” who cares” would be the families of those who were killed as a result of the russian invasion of the Ukraine to which troops Netrebko
    lends her so called glorious voice and
    “humanitarian” monies .

  • Eugene says:

    She is Putin’s “agent of influence” and YES, she knows what she is doing… Her open and friendly relationships with the leaders of pro-Putin’s terrorist organization in Ukraine are the most cynical show… while her family enjoy the happy and quiet life in Austria, she supports people responsible for the deaths of hundred thousand peaceful Ukrainian citizen in Eastern Ukraine…she supports people who in our modern word recreated in the middle of Europe death cameras and concentration camps…. im not even mentioning the recent tragedy with the Malaysian plane – the investigation is still in progress…
    And you are telling me that such a visible person does not have moral obligations… and should continue support financially(with money earned in Austria) and morally people who are trying to change borders in modern Europe… she is not supporting homeless people, she is not supporting fighting with EBOLA , she is supporting PUTIN’s regime…… people wake UP!!!!

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