Metropolitan Opera after her support for Vladimir Putin resurfaced amid Russia’s devastating invasion of Ukraine.Netrebko, 50, is one of the opera’s highest grossing box office superstars and her exit is a major blow to the Manhattan cultural establishment.“It is a great artistic loss for the Met and for opera,” Met General Manager Peter Gelb announced in a statement on Thursday. “Anna is one of the greatest singers in Met history, but with Putin killing innocent victims in Ukraine, there was no way forward.”Gelb said last Sunday that the Met would not continue to associate with artists who support Putin.
The Met had previously tried to persuade Netrebko to renounce her support of the Russian president, however, their efforts were rendered useless.
Netrebko was set to perform in Giacomo Puccini’s “Turandot” in the spring and Giuseppe Verdi’s “Don Carlo” next season. Ukranian soprano Liudmyla Monastyrska is on deck to replace her in both productions.“Turandot” will be running five performances from April 30 until May 14, For “Don Carlo,” five shows will begin Nov.
3 and end on Nov. 19.In 2008, Netrebko received the People’s Artist of Russia honor from Putin. She was later pictured in 2014 holding a Novorussian flag after giving a 1 million ruble (the currency of Russia) donation to the opera hose in Donetsk.
Read more on nypost.com