Just in: Czechs ban Netrebko
NewsAn October concert by Anna Netrebko at Smetana Hall of the Municipal House in Prague has been cancelled following political and public pressure.
The organisers said: ‘We agreed that we would give in to political pressure and that Anna would not demand compensation.’
The Czech government has taken a strong line on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, too many unfond memories.
We stand with Ukraine.
I believe the concert was planned to have taken place in the Smetana Hall of the Municipal House (Obecní dům). Please correct your description as “Town Hall” is a bit misleading.
Well done by the Czechs. Would that other European countries followed suit. Since we know she won’t be showing up in unoccupied Ukraine, let her sing cheesy and distasteful Russian-pop tunes in Russian casinos. And please keep her there.
Good on the Czechs! If only the Hungarians would show similar gumption. After all, they suffered similarly under the Russian yoke, not too long ago.
Their leader is a fascist meglomaniac much like Putin. Brothers in arms.
Bravo il coraggioso popolo ceco!!!
Fortunately memories of Russian atrocities in Praha in 1968 have not completely faded.
The commendable decision by the Fiala government to ban the Netrebko concert once again highlights the difference between the principled, ethical burghers of Praha and the congenitally hypocritical and duplicitous Viennese.
It is no wonder Mozart much preferred the exquisite city on the Vlatava to the stifling confines of Vienna’s First District.
He also thought the Bohemian musicians were much better – but since 1787 that comparison is arguably less tenable.
Oh, the memories of “Russian atrocities” of 1968…While you had to play a little trick by replacing “Soviet” with “Russian”, I do not have to play such tricks with my memories of how the Czechs surrendered to the Nazis w/o a single shot fired, gave them all their tanks and guns intact (yes, I do remember that 1/3 of the Wehrmacht tanks in 1941 were the Czech-built 35(t) and 38(t)), and faithfully worked for the Nazi war machine throughout WW2. The Czechs even refused to support the anti-Nazi rebellion in Slovakia in the Autumn of 1944, such was the order of their government in exile. Consider the post-war Soviet occupation a small price paid for this collaboration. Frankly, I do not understand Netrebko’s decision to sing in this country and in the end I am glad that she will not.
Oh look another Russian Stalinist “tankie”. How shocking! Heaven forbid “Socialism with a human face” be allowed to set an example for other captive regimes.
Hear hear! We should all stand with Ukraine.
Czechs rightfully hate Germans and Russians who were their overlords at various times in the last 90 or so years. Netrebko’s embrace of Putin and refusal to say his war was unjust should keep her a musical pariah.
I can understand the Czechs point of view, but I think they are making a mistake , in associating music and Netrebko with the Russian/Ukrainian offensive war.
But it gives all those sanctimonious prigs a lovely warm feeling, so it’s OK.
Better a prig than a prick, prick.
Prig is correct in this context, i.e. a self-righteously moralistic person who behaves as if they are superior to others
I know.
The whole sequence “now we invite her, now we cancel her” was staged to humiliate Netrebko and get cheers from Russophobes.
Where is there anything Russian than one should NOT be “phobic” about?
I could not care less about your “one” and his phobias.
Netrebko and hubby have associated themselves.
Finally a country with some moral backbone.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022.. Anna Netrebko immediately condemned the war on February 26, 2022, and again on March 30, 2022. Does it make you feel proud and courageous to denounce an opera singer for decades of Russian brutality? Anna Netrebko will continue to perform and be recognized as the outstanding soprano of the early the 21st Century despite your cowardly bravado.
Her abilities, perhaps. Her humanity, not at all.
Error, Anna Netrebko ha comunicado en varias ocasiones, estar en contra de la guerra, y no estar asociada a la política, es una artista y solo hace su trabajo.Es una injusticia como la de Estados Unidos. Que pena mezclar la política con el arte.
¡Por favor! Incluso el arte tiene conciencia.
Like Putin wasn’t forced in to his military operation by NATO….
???????
was he afraid Nato will attack him?
or he just wanted to preserve great Russia?