The Met has banned pro-Putin artists. Does that mean Anna?

Peter Gelb, general manager of the Metropolitan Opera, has issued a video statement of solidarity with the people of Ukraine, adding that ‘we can no longer engage with artists or institutions that support Putin or are supported by him.’

The ban would prevail, he said, ‘until the invasion and killing has been stopped, order has been restored, and restitutions have been made.’

Gelb avoided saying whether the ban would include the star soprano Anna Netrebko, who is due to appear as Turandot on April 30. Netrebko, while she now says she is ‘opposed to this war’, has a history of supporting Putin’s Crimea incursions.

Gelb told the New York Times that he may also end the current coproduction with the Bolshoi Theatre, which is building sets and making costumes for next season’s Lohengrin. Gelb personally attended the general rehearsal in Moscow last week. ‘I think we’ll have no choice but to physically build our own sets and costumes,’ he said.