Anna Netrebko is supposed to return to Rome for a Tosca revival
The government in Kiev has called on Ukraine’s Western backers to ban soprano Anna Netrebko from performing anywhere outside Russia.
Earlier this week, the Rome Opera announced that Netrebko would star in their production of Tosca on January 14, on the 125th anniversary of Giacomo Puccini’s opera premiering at the Costanzi Theatre.
“Now it is very important that Russian figures do not have the opportunity to earn money in the civilized world and continue to bring Russian culture to Europe and the West,” Vladimir Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andrey Yermak, said on Friday.
Yermak described Netrebko as a “servant of the regime” in Moscow, who endorsed President Vladimir Putin in the 2012 election and visited Donbass in 2014.
“Netrebko should not perform in Europe. The only place for her and others like her now is the opera in Moscow. I call on all concerned and our allies to react,” he added.
His initiative comes as Ukrainian forces are losing ground all along the frontline and right after Zelensky announced the suspension of all foreign debt payments.
