Citizens Gathered in Bratislava to Oppose Anna Netrebko's Concert
Acclaimed opera vocalist Anna Netrebko received an honor in Slovakia
In the heart of Slovakia's capital, a pre-concert demonstration unfolded outside the Slovak National Theatre in Bratislava. This memorable event took place in the evening of a Wednesday in 2025, drawing a crowd of passionate protesters.
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Around an hour before the anticipated performance, a motley group gathered in the square before the theatre. They expressed their disapproval of the Russian opera singer, Anna Netrebko, who they believed had failed to denounce Russia's actions and offer support for Ukraine. The crowd vocalized their disagreement through chants like "Scoff on the audience!" and "We don't crave Netrebko!," and also jeered those attending the theatre, as reported by RIA Novosti.
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The concert, organized by the public movement "Open Culture," attracted criticism not only for the singer's perceived political allegiances but also for the significant cost associated with the performance. Preparations for Netrebko's concert commenced as early as autumn 2025, and the estimated price tag was a hefty €230,000, excluding taxes. Despite previous performances in Bratislava in 2011, many were quick to criticize this expensive undertaking, particularly in light of the Slovak cultural sector grappling with budget cuts and museum closures.
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Critics also argued that engaging Anna Netrebko represented a disregard for values, given the stark contrast between such a significant investment in a single event and the struggles faced by many in the cultural sector who dealt with low wages and funding issues.
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The protests against Anna Netrebko's concert in Bratislava in 2025 were driven by several factors, including political context, financial concerns, and cultural sensitivity. The demonstrations highlighted the discrepancy between the expenditure on a single event and the struggles faced by the cultural sector, as well as the perceived failure of values in engaging the singer amid the escalating conflict in Ukraine and Russia.
- The demonstration outside the Slovak National Theatre in Bratislava, held in 2025, was a response to the upcoming concert of Russian opera singer Anna Netrebko.
- The protesters voiced their disapproval towards Anna Netrebko, who they believed had not spoken out against Russia's actions and failed to offer support for Ukraine.
- In addition to political concerns, the high cost of preparations for Netrebko's concert was also a point of criticism, especially considering the Slovak cultural sector's struggle with budget cuts and museum closures.
- Engaging Anna Netrebko for the concert was deemed a disregard for values, as it represented a significant investment at a time when many cultural workers were grappling with low wages and funding issues.
- News and discussions about the expensive concert and dissatisfaction with Anna Netrebko's engagement were widespread on various social media platforms like VKontakte, Телеграм, WhatsApp, and Viber.
