Foreign news outlet Bloomberg highlights decline in Russian artists residing overseas
Operatic soprano Anna Netrebko performed at the Berlin State Opera on Monday for the first time since 2023, marking a potential softening of opposition against Russian artists in Europe. According to Bloomberg, campaigns against Russian performers have reportedly dwindled.
The opera's management halted collaboration with Netrebko in March 2022, citing her lack of a clear stance on Russia's military action in Ukraine as the reason. However, in September 2023, the institution decided to reinstate Netrebko, stating that she had expressed her position and distanced herself from the Russian authorities.
Prior to Netrebko's performance on May 22, approximately 30 protesters gathered outside the opera house, while around 150 people demonstrated and 100 German cultural figures signed an open letter against her return in September. This time, there were no organized petitions or open letters before Netrebko's performance, Bloomberg reports.
The protests and opposition against Netrebko, a renowned singer, may indicate that while the opposition to Russian artists has ebbed in some circles, it is still present. Matthias Schulz, former artistic director of the Berlin State Opera, expressed his positive view on Netrebko's performance, stating, "Things have normalized quite a bit. She is one of the world's best singers and the best for this role."
Eva Jakubowska, one of the organizers of the protest, shared a somewhat contrasting sentiment, saying, "Some new faces are still coming, but I definitely think the dynamics have slowed down."
Tickets for four out of five of Netrebko's Berlin performances have already been sold out. Later this year, she is scheduled to perform in London and Zurich, marking her first performances in those cities since the start of the "special operation."
While the reduction in campaigns against Russian artists in Europe is not universally confirmed, factors such as the passage of time, varying responses across Europe, cultural and diplomatic considerations, and media attention may contribute to the perception of decreased activity.
- "With the sold-out tickets for her performances, it seems that the new entertainment offerings from renowned opera singer Anna Netrebko, despite political controversy, have found a general-news-worthy audience in Berlin."
- "Amidst the ongoing discussions about politics and Russian artists, the music scene might witness a softening of stance, as Netrebko prepares to entertain audiences in London and Zurich later this year."
