Italy books Netrebko’s return in June
NewsThe Arena di Verona has announced that Anna Netrebko will play the title role in Aida, in an ancient Franco Zeffirelli production running over 46 nights from June to September.
Her husband Yusif Eyvazov will appear opposite her.
La Scala was the first to take action against Putin supporters in the Ukraine war. It appears Verona will now break that solidarity.
perhaps there may be a planned stage malfunction where the tomb actually seals their fate at the end after a night of horrific singing.
“It appears Verona will now break that solidarity.”
Solidarity with whom? The 1930’s inspired berufsverbot against people we don’t like?
I think it’s turandot not Aida
She (and he) will sing both
Be interesting to see how many people show up to hear her. Nobody can force an audience to come if they decide to stay away.
She is still on the programme of the Forza I have tickets for in December at the Bastille. Neef says they’re considering whether to keep her. My fingers are crossed for dumping her, not just because of her politics; I really dislike her voice. But a lot could happen between now and December.
Why did you buy those tickets knowing that she is performing, if you are crossing your fingers for her not to perform??
The vulgar Arena di Verona is run by mafiosi and other shady characters. So it is no surprise they want Putin’s superannuated dear. Because trash begets trash.
You are absolutely correct.
Speaking of Verona. In the summer of 2021, the Arena celebrated the 150th anniversary of Aida. The management entrusted this historic event to Riccardo Muti.
I don’t know why I bring this up. This point is obviously completed unrelated to your comment.
Coherence and loyalty? The Italian Festival of Ravello has announced their firm intention to retain Gergiev on their summer calendar, because “culture” should be above war. Even children know that Ravello is inside the core of the Italian mafia territory. Alessio Vlad is the Festival director. He is very very close to Muti. These are all coincidences.
You might be right, except that she is not Putin’s superannuated diva, but the Met’s superannuated diva instead. The Met invented her, the Met discarded her. And it will continue to invent new MacDivas, producing MacOpera and feeding its public with what its public likes.
During war times, we all feel supportive of each other and prone to see virtue where typically there is none. This interesting phenomenon is ubiquitous and encroaches in surprising places: we would even be generously inclined to expect coherence from Italians.
Then, we suddenly awake from this misty fog, and we remember that Italy is the birth place of famous conductors who make stirring speeches against Putin, only to hang on tight to the honors and awards they personally received from him.
Oh Italy, cradle of great leaders. You can see one who represents the soul of the country, here: https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/10/18/1413629942370_wps_4_BERLUSKONI_PUTIN_Russian_.jpg
We have had “war times” for the past 60+ years. If we suspended everything because of wars we would have to boycott Russians, Germans, Americans, British … and others. Have we forgotten Western actions in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere? There are probably people still boycotting the French because of Napoleon.
None of the wars except the French against SE Asians had the goal of colonizing or destroying civilians. However poorly operated, the goal was to leave the nation a democracy.
Country has to decide which political regime to follow but not external countries. Do not forget how many
civilians were killed in Vietnam, Syria, Cambodia. Was it the good price to decide that regime was not good enough. All Wars are horrible, but for some reason West accepts double standards. What is allowed to Jupiter…..
Hi Guest, the West offers Art and culture. There are no Operahouses in Vietnam or Syria. But more than that there are no persons like Netrebko, who is at the side of a slaughter!! These are two different situations.
You are absolutely correct. The west’s obsession with Russia is not balanced while ignoring its own mega atrocities committed by USA, Britain and Germany. What a bunch of hypocrites.
I’m from Poland .
You wrote nicely. Do not worry. This is what Europe looks like. See the Germans how they betrayed their country (the greens) and Europe.
We warned against Russia. But no one was listening.
Today, Europe is almost Russian.
One could risk the claim that the EU was founded by agents of Russia. After all, the EU was created to compete with the US. Not with China, not with Russia. Americans are fools who have squandered their potential and today are practically alone. NATO in Europe is controlled by a pro-Russian Europe.
These are the last moments of Ukraine. The last moments of Eastern Europe.
The last years of Poland’s existence.
Thank you, Italians, for the grace and lightness with which you treated life. Thank you for the beautiful women. Great audio equipment.
And, of course, pizza! It was nice.
“ Europe is almost Russian” – you are right – and the earth is almost a flat disc.
Not sure about the text that goes along with the photo. Unlike Netrebko Berlusconi has condemned Putin by name for the horrors in Ukraine. And he was probably not just making the statements to save a career. Numerous papers have reported his remarks. This is taken from the report in The Independent.
“I cannot and do not want to hide the fact that I am deeply disappointed and saddened by the behaviour of Vladimir Putin…..I met him 20 years ago and he’d always seemed a man of democracy and peace.
Faced with the horrors of civilian massacres in Bucha and other areas in Ukraine, real war crimes, Russia cannot deny its responsibility,” Berlusconi said. “It should, for its own interests, identify and put the perpetrators on trial.”
What was the point of firing her if she is reinstated a month later? I guess, opera just cannot survive without a mediocre soprano who is well past her best before date.
She said in one of her interviews that the best way to behave now is to stay quiet and calm. Life will go on. She was right.
She has a date to sing in Mariinsky in the summer, Arena di Verona will use her. Can other European theatres be far behind?
We know what she called her critics.
Does anyone think now she may have a point?
Vergogna!
Bravo. It’s been disgusting to see the coordinated mob – like behaviour in houses that should honour art first, second and third. Regarding politics, in a democracy we can make up our own minds. We don’t need Opera Houses to do that for us.
“It appears Verona will break that solidarity”. Few days ago Mr. Lebrecht was criticizing her for posting pictures in Dubai (oh no, such a monster). I wonder if he worried that much with american singers or demanded their opinion when Trump was keeping immigrant five-year-old children in jails, away from their parents. Did the Met ever play Afghanistan‘s or Somalia’s national anthems?
A ticket to a Verona Arena performance is a part of many package holiday type deals in the area and those holidaymakers might just go for the open air Arena experience. They may be folks relaxing on their holiday who like music a little, but without any in depth knowledge, possibly never having attended an operatic performance before and who have no idea who Madame Netrebko is at all . To them she will simply be a member of the cast on the stage.
Summer festival audiences are always an eclectic mix of the dedicated music lovers and those who are vaguely interested.
I can’t really imagine there being much reaction to her participating from the public in this venue nor in consequence from the festival organizers. Surely and realistically speaking it is in large part fear of public reaction which causes some Directors to take action in addition to any political / moral justification they may feel?
I agree with AndrewB’s evaluation of Festival audiences, particularly in Verona where a night at the opera is often just a Trip Adviser addition to Romeo & Juliet gawking, Torre dei Lamberti climbing or munching medicore, over-priced pizza on the Piazza Bra.
The point is that in hiring two demonstrably pro-Putin apologists, the Arena Di Verona is shamelessly ignoring their utterly unconscionable views.
Yes, Donna Anna and Yusuf the Useless could be viewed as unfortunate collateral victims, but what are a few cancelled gigs in comparison to the tens of thousands of collateral victims of Putin’s war who have been displaced, tortured, raped or killed? Sovrintendente Cecilia Gasdìa lost her principles as well as her voice long ago.
Well, also the Met is often just a Trip Adviser addition to the Statue of Liberty, Central Park and over-priced hamburgers or “pizzas” (maybe kebabs). It’s really amazing how american people will ignore their own wars and the atrocities their own leaders commit. Just play some anthem before a performance and everybody cries, certain of being good-hearted folks that only want peace — for themselves, of course. The peace their leaders want them to beg for. As for their own wars, just make America great again, right?
I hope the audience will be empty. Wake up Italia, this is war! Russians, not only Putin, murder and rape. Shame…
A total disgrace! Musicians community should do everything to prevent these two morons, these two Putin‘s lapdogs from performing anywhere near the civilized world! There place is in Kremlin and all the way to Vladivostok!
Very well said Daniel Raiskin. They should go back to Russia since they love their land so very much. Netrebko said a few times “I would like to be Putin’s Maitresse !! Of course Putin prefers much younger ones. Her voice has lost its charm and sounds old. Yusif can only shout !That shameless Mr.Netrebko. Shame on you Verona to invite these mediocre singers to sing at that beautiful Arena, in a time where thousands of innocent civilians are being killed from that pokerface dictator !
based on most reactions, am still waiting for one noting: that Richard Strauss dedicated one of his compositions to … Goebbels (yet the Met happily, constantly performing, no mention of this); Met celebrated Elisabeth Schwarzkopf who lied through her teeth about her Nazi party affiliation; Karajan much celebrated etc. etc. Anyone growing up under communism as I did, knows that with family, friends left behind – you must watch your words. Netrebko condemned the war twice, but without mentioning Putin. Quite understandable – more than the easy from a Manhattan armchair condemnations. (Never mind how quickly Hollywood and West celebrated Maurice Chevalier, Edith Piaf etc. – who entertained Nazis in occupied Paris).
I am glad about this. She was very much in a damned if you do, damned if you don’t position. It may be me, wanting to see the best in her, but I believe her. People can disagree with the choices the leaders of their homelands make all the time. I know I don’t agree with every choice every current president of the US has made! Why should it be any different for her?
Susan if so, then she can return to her beloved country! There are enough opera houses there. But Madame Netrebko prefers to pick up the raisins from the the West, and is a protegee of Putin ! Did you forget how she waved the flag ? Frankly I would like to form group and go to Verona and throw a dozen of eggs and tomatoes on her hypocritical face ! As a singer she is already done. Less tham mediocre!
I blame Tolstoi and will remove him from my Bookshelves !
Bravo verona!!!!met and gelb take example!!!!art and artists are not politicians as you think!
No, don’t agree. Artists are known persons and are ambassadors of good deeds ! Good examples to look up to. Did you forget that she supported Putin? Did you forget how she waved the Separatisten flag ? This IS already politics! She is just an Egoist and a Narcist. Whatever is good for her Ego is good. But she doesn’t care if thousands of innocent people and children are killed right now ! I only say Karma !
Shame on you Verona ! Once a mafioso, always a mafioso. Inviting these two useless and mediocre singers is a double shame !!
Cha- ching!
I am Russian, I am not sure, if you know that Nettebko is one of the few brave Russian celebrities who spoke out againgst War. She is banned from Russian theaters for this and hated by Putin’s supporters. I am not her fan and do not understand anything in opera, but if you want to support Putin – go ahead, keep banning Russian artists from the stage, he is using it very well in his propaganda. I know what I say, I watch Russian TV.