La Scala is selling tickets for Netrebko

La Scala is selling tickets for Netrebko

News

norman lebrecht

April 12, 2022

Really?

Yes, really.

Netrebko has been a strong supporter of Putin’s Ukraine interventions since 2014. She is hand in glove with Gergiev.

Italy is clearly softening on the Russian lockout.

Statement from La Scala:

Tomorrow at 10am booking opens for two recitals. On 27 May at 8pm Anna Netrebko and Elena Maximova go on stage with violinist Giovanni Andrea Zanon and pianist Malcolm Martineau (https://bit.ly/3E5Fir1). On 4 September at 8pm Asmik Grigorian is accompanied by Lukas Geniusas’ piano. (https://bit.ly/37gRlWu).

 

Comments

  • John Borstlap says:

    They seem to test the water with recitals.

    When evil makes itself so clearly visible, it shows-up who is what.

  • Pedro says:

    My wife and myself have tickets for the concert at the Paris Philharmonie on May 25. It has not been cancelled – so far. It should be.

  • Peter says:

    Obama destroyed Libya. Should American musicians supporting Obama be held accountable?

    If you’re angry at Netrebko, but not at the above mentioned, you’re a primitive fool.

    • True North says:

      That’s nothing but silly whataboutism. I wouldn’t be so quick to call others fools if I were you.

    • Tiredofitall says:

      Name-calling always wins arguments.

    • V. Lind says:

      I’m scraping to remember which artists lined themselves up with that incident…

      And, loth though I am to line up with any American foreign policy. they were not INVADING Libya.

      • Brian says:

        We had Libya’s leader tortured and killed and we threw the entire country into a civil war from which they still haven’t recovered. “We came, we saw, he died,” was the joke that make Hillary Clinton chortle about it. While we didn’t technically invade Libya, we were just as destructive as if we had.

        • V. Lind says:

          One of the many reasons I do not support US foreign policy. But as I said, I don’t recall any American artists lining up in support.

      • Peter says:

        I never wrote they invaded Libya.

  • Zee says:

    Well, Italians have a choice of boycotting the performance and let local Russians buy them.

  • D. says:

    Shame on La Scala.

  • Dennis says:

    Netrebko choices should not affect her career but there is always exceptions and supporting a modern day Hitler is one of them! Truly,shame on her and La Scala.

  • Ms.Melody says:

    The resolve of the European opera houses and festivals is just incredible.
    When did you say the sanctions against Russia were being lifted? No wonder Putin’s army is marching across Ukraine unstoppable. With this kind of resistance from the West they will not stop at Kiev.
    Do the managers of Italian opera houses realize that they completely discredit themselves and their previous declarations are pure hypocrisy?

  • Lothario Hunter says:

    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 and steadfastness 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 unimpeachable moral authorities. 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

  • Greg Bottini says:

    Netrebko and Gergiev – let’s just call them Schwarzkopf and Boehm and be done with it.

    • Ms.Melody says:

      The two people you mention had undisputed musical merits which is more that you can say about the current pair whose output has been substandard for years.

  • A.L. says:

    I-just-can’t

  • Jonathon Tubs says:

    Disgraceful

  • JanaDC says:

    What a shame. 🙁

  • James Weiss says:

    I hope she is booed. The Italians are also good at throwing things. Get the ripe tomatoes ready!

  • Glynne Williams says:

    Maybe they’re hoping the Ukrainians will have been completely obliterated by then so that Netrebko and co can carry on with business as usual…

  • Helea says:

    Anna Netrebko go Home.

  • Bella says:

    Shame on La Scala

  • Henk says:

    It’s rather sad and disappointing to see someone I used to admire as much as Malcolm Martineau participating in this. I thought he had more class than to just follow the blood-stained roubles…

  • Ryan says:

    Using the in vogue logic, I have to ask, when do we start canceling the CCP-aligned artists? Musicians, actors, athletes, etc. should not be judged for their political positions. They should be judged on their talent. World War Woke won’t end because Gergiev and Netrebko are silenced. The world needs MORE art not less!

    • Cara Cara Meravigliosa says:

      Most Russian artists are not being silenced. Artists like Ekaterina Gubanova, Igor Golovatenko, Marina Prudenskaya, Daniil Trifonov, Tugan Sokhiev, and many others are still welcome to Western opera houses and concert halls.

      Vocal supporters like Gergiev and Netrebko are not. Netrebko in particular posed with the Novorussia flag (which resembles the Confederate flag) alongside a separatist.

  • Vladimir says:

    Remember sirens? They had beautiful voices.

  • Serge says:

    Dear Norman, and all,
    Ha-ha. Predictably enough, all the theatres around the world will host the Russians Artists soon. You will see. They won’t survive without such artists like Netrebko, Gergiev, Matsuev, Pletnev and many-many others.
    With love from Russia 🙂

    • Cara Cara Meravigliosa says:

      I, for one, look forward to the day when Italian opera is no longer sung anymore by ugly Slavic voices.

      • Mariah says:

        This is precisely the kind of comment that Putin has been using for years to justify distancing from the west, because “the West is out to get us”. There are Russians who don’t want anything to do with Putin’s war, don’t lump them in with the kowtowing Gergiev. This is incredibly hurtful for other Russian artist who are maybe less well know or have gotten out of Russia to not be forced to follow party line for fear of being jailed for up to 15 years.

        And btw, Slavic refers to several Eastern European nations, including Ukrainians, Polish and Belarusians.

  • AlecVilla says:

    Absolutely rivolting! DisgustIng!

  • Tom Phillips says:

    Italians (as well as many of their co-ethnics abroad) are hardly the greatest practitioners of impeccable politics and/or ethical/moral behavior.

  • Pro freedom of thinking New Yorker says:

    Bravo La Scala !

  • Renate Häberle says:

    Good news. Boycotting artists and that sort of witchhunt makes no sense to me.

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