Munich names like-for-like Netrebko replacement

Munich names like-for-like Netrebko replacement

News

norman lebrecht

March 03, 2022

From Bavarian State Opera:
In den Vorstellungen von Macbeth am 14. und 18.7.22 übernimmt Ekaterina Semenchuk die Partie der Lady Macbeth anstelle von Anna Netrebko.

That’s a production in July. They are not expecting to see Netrebko again any time soon.

Ekaterina Semenchuk, 45, is from Minsk in Belarus, the co-invader of Ukraine.

Comments

  • Giuseppe says:

    “like-for-like” ???

    It’s not too long ago that these two were singing Leonora and Azucena, respectively.

  • Brettermeier says:

    “like-for-like”

    Hmm. She did celebrate Netrebko’s birthday in the Kremlin with the who-is-who of the Putin fan club, didn’t she.

    Either that was pretty sloppy of Munich or she was pretty convincing that she knows better now.

  • Peter San Diego says:

    Unless Semenchuk has previously expressed approval for aggression or repression, it seems unfair to characterize her as “like-for-like.”

  • Fernando says:

    Let’s stop with this, please! I don’t know the opinion of Ms. Semenchuk about the war, but one must consider that many artists have relatives living in their countries right now, and they will face the consequences of any public statement contrary to the official patriotism. So let’s not exclude them only because of their citizenship, and let’s not torture all them with an obligation to say what we want to listen as a condition to earn a living with their peaceful and honorable profession.

    • Marvolos says:

      There are other artists in Europe and in the world NOT stained by their connections an roots! Or are you saying the Russians are the best! Which are NOT! These are Accessory before crime but now by NOT condemning the Genocide and the Invasion of Ukraine are complicit. But hey What’s more important than MONEY!!!

  • Hugo Preuß says:

    Netrebko and Gergiev face their current difficulties NOT because they are Russian, but because they have been close to Putin.

    I know nothing about Semenchuk’s politics, but if all you can bring up against her is her country of birth, then please desist. If there is more, then let us know.

  • Diva lover w1 says:

    Pathetic . Who is running the Munich opera? Boris
    ?

  • EagleArts says:

    Norman, are you attempting to create a false equivalency? It’s not the fact that Netrebko is Russian that has got her cancelled……

  • David says:

    I thought the issue was some vague standard about publicly denouncing the war and Putin to a sufficient degree, or recanting past posts. Has she done this?

    While we’re at it there are some Chinese singers who have not adequately denounced the CCP for their crimes. Until they do they too should be fired, I guess.

  • Cynical Bystander says:

    Is Ms Semenchuk responsible for her country being a co invader of the Ukraine? This hysterical guilt by association becomes ever more alarming. Much of this begins to feel like BDS which in another arena is rightly condemned as being anti…… Name your own pariah!

    • Antonia says:

      BYW, “Ukraine” does not have a definite article in front of it. It’s just “Ukraine”, like “France”. Not “the Ukraine” like “The Netherlands”.

  • steveb says:

    For a moment I wondered why there was a photo of my ex-wife on Slipped Disc.

  • Poyu says:

    Did you check this soprano‘s previous and current opinion, or just say she is a like-for-like simply based on her nationality?

  • Solveig says:

    Hmm…Old kettle was criticising a frying pan because of its dirty black…and both the same filthy…

  • Solveig says:

    I am not very convinced that any musician has to be such a dexterous in complicated politics as to be obligated to declare the war to whoever…Mind you, music is the most cosmopolitan art from any other that if we consequently follow that line – then we shall not to play nor listen to Tchaikovsky, to Prokofieff or Rachmaninoff??? Please, let that superficially bland criteria behind otherwise we’ll get to some absurd at any level! These people CAN NOT to persuade their “friend” Putin about stopping the war if cut them their every day bread’s earnings! I think the world is getting mad and we’re truly heading to an Apocalypse!

  • Suzanne Snell Tesh says:

    Please disregard my previous comment, which was thoughtless and uninformed. Actually Munich does care and has acted in no uncertain terms to remove Gergiev from his conducting post.

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