Putinist Anna Netrebko will perform in Berlin: German state opera justifies opera singer

The world-famous Russian opera singer and Putinist Anna Netrebko will return to the German opera stage after mass protests by Ukrainians outside the State Opera House in Berlin in September 2023. Interestingly, the leaders of the cultural institution justify the artist and claim that she has nothing to do with Russia today.

The cooperation with the Putinist became known from the concert program of the next season. Moreover, the German media outlet B.Z. reports that the management is incredibly impressed with Netrebko's performances, so they consider her very valuable in the cast.

The decision to spread Russian narratives on the world stage was made by the future director of the opera, Elisabeth Sobotka, and the new chief conductor, Christian Thielemann. So far, the Putinist is scheduled to perform in only two performances: "Nabucco and Il Trovatore by Giuseppe Verdi, but in the company of her husband, Azerbaijani Yusif Eyvazov.

"I don't know anyone who could sing Abigail [in Nabucco] better," Sobotka said.

Ukrainians have actively protested Netrebko's past performances in front of the State Opera House in Berlin, which is probably why the opera singer disappeared from the German stage for a while. However, she is now returning, and the management naively hopes that the performances of the supporter of dictator Vladimir Putin will go smoothly.

"Of course, I hope there will be no protests, because I really don't think it's justified. She did a very stupid thing, but she has distanced herself and really has nothing to do with Russia anymore," said Elisabeth Sobotka.

It is worth noting that Anna Netrebko was Vladimir Putin's proxy in the elections, received awards from his hands, spoke at the opening of the Sochi Olympics, and even took pictures with the flag of Novorossiya together with one of the separatist leaders and financed the so-called DPR. Due to such political and cultural activities, Netrebko was included in the Peacemaker database.

Earlier, OBOZ.UA wrote that Netrebko's speech, which was supposed to take place in June in Switzerland, was canceled. The reason for this was the planned peace summit and the perceived "threat to public order."

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