Breaking: Eyvazov is forced to sing with Armenian
mainThe soprano Ruzan Mantashyan, ousted from the Dresden Opera Ball after the Azeri tenor Yusif Eyvazov allegedly refused to sing with an Armenian, was last night reinstated.
The Semper Opernball announced: The 30-year-old soprano, born in Yerevan, will sing Tatyana’s great aria from the opera Eugen Onegin by Peter Tchaikovsky in Dresden. ‘The Semper Opera Ball follows its general philosophy of speaking the language of art, bringing artists and cultural workers together and building bridges between nations, cultures and perspectives,’ said Hans-Joachim Frey, first Chairman of the Semper Opera Ball. ‘I am pleased that Ruzan Mantashyan has finally been able to accept a role in Dresden and that all other artists and colleagues who appear at the ball also support this. Mantashyan will be with the MDR Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Kristjan Järvi together with performers such as the tenor Yusif Eyvazov, the violinist Pavel Milyukov, the soprano Julia Muzychenko, the pianist Alexander Kashpurin etc.’
Ruzan writes: I was convinced that culture knows no borders and I’m glad this belief is shared by so many people who supported me with their words and deeds these past few days. I am pleased to inform my listeners that on February 7th, I will sing Tatiana’s aria at the Dresden Opera Ball.’
The fact that they had to reinvite her does not excuse the shocking fact that they disinvited her in the first place.
I would say it helps, though. They could have stayed in denial or issued an insincere apology.
I’m not sure I’d say that “‘The Semper Opera Ball follows its general philosophy of speaking the language of art, bringing artists and cultural workers together and building bridges between nations, cultures and perspectives,’” sounds sincere.
They disinvited in the name of what general philosophy? If they failed to uphold their own principles, an apology to her is in order, and “‘I am pleased that Ruzan Mantashyan has finally been able to accept a role in Dresden” is distasteful in that context, making it sound as a scheduling conflict.
Hope the spectators will know this time to reward every artist according to his real musical talent and performance….this will make justice….
Absolutely!
Tatiana’s Letter Scene played at a Ball?
Party sounds a hoot.
I wouldn’t deny Eyvazov his right not to actually perform with her, but it was beyond the pale for him to demand her exclusion from the program, or for the organizers to indulge such a demand.
Rules for such events, as for parties: If someone tells you they won’t come if so-and-so is coming, tell them they won’t be missed.
I wouldn’t take any of this at face value. First there was a story about Eyvazov hurting a colleague. Then came a rebuttal. Next Pape piped in (being a Dresdner). Now all is back to normal?
Not one of the reports adds up.
Agreed 100%
Wasn’t the original flap that he had to sing a duet with her?
It seems that duet is gone now, so he got what he wanted, right?
While I commend the Ball for doing the right thing (though this does not excuse the original decision), what I find so infuriating is Eyvasov’s skirting around the issue. The man is a xenophobic prig, and, even if he didn’t make this request in the first place, he could at least apologize for the fact that anyone could misconstrue what has been going on the past few weeks. Instead, he does not apologize and says he would perform with her ONLY on condition that she already has an executed contract. He does this all while mocking an extremely talented artist. It’s inexcusable, and I hope other people join me in not attending his performances, even if it means missing out on his actually talented spouse.