![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/berlin-protesters-condemn-russian-soprano-netrebkos-opera-performance/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/131103952_d286a99d6912a4a037ca0b7c2a69f0ec41e6a4f70_0_8192_46101000x563.jpg&description=Image source, CLEMENS BILAN/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock Image caption, An estimated 200 protesters demonstrated outside the Berlin State Opera on Friday evening Protesters have targeted Berlin's State Opera for refusing to cancel Russian opera singer Anna Netrebko's first performance there since the 2022 war. Chanting "shame", they accused the soprano of failing to condemn Vladimir Putin for Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Berlin's mayor, its senator for culture and Ukraine's German ambassador have all criticised the opera for allowing the singer to return to its stage. Ms Netrebko has criticised the war and argues she met Mr Putin a few times. However, only a year before the invasion she celebrated her 50th birthday with a gala performance at the Kremlin and she has been shunned by opera houses in the US and elsewhere in Europe. In the weeks leading up to her sold-out appearance as Lady Macbeth in Giuseppe Verdi's opera Macbeth, 37,000 people signed a petition demanding the role be given to someone else. But the Russian-born soprano, who has Austrian citizenship, is scheduled to appear for a further three dates this month. Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Anna Netrebko was dropped by the Metropolitan Opera in New York last year The opera's artistic director, Matthias Schulz, told Berlin public radio that "we have to be careful not to use artists as scapegoats". Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner, said he was "very critical" of her return to the Berlin stage, regretting than such an internationally successful performer "has not yet clearly and unambiguously distanced herself from the Russian war of aggression and Putin". The city's senator for culture, Joe Chialo, pointedly attended a photo exhibition on Friday entitled Russian War Crimes, across the road from the opera house on Berlin's Unter den Linden. He was joined by Ukrainian ambassador Oleksii Makeiev, who said on social media that people should not turn a blind eye to Russian war crimes. Ms Netrebko, who lives in A){kind=link}
Protesters have targeted Berlin’s State Opera for refusing to cancel Russian opera singer Anna Netrebko’s first performance there since the 2022 war.
Chanting “shame”, they accused the soprano of failing to condemn Vladimir Putin for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Berlin’s mayor, its senator for culture and Ukraine’s German ambassador have all criticised the opera for allowing the singer to return to its stage.
Ms Netrebko has criticised the war and argues she met Mr Putin a few times.
However, only a year before the invasion she celebrated her 50th birthday with a gala performance at the Kremlin and she has been shunned by opera houses in the US and elsewhere in Europe.