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Anna Netrobko, here in 2021 at a performance in Salzburg: Back on the big stages
Photo: Franz Neumayr / dpa
It took more than a month for Anna Netrebko to find clear words about the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.
At the end of March, she had her German lawyer, Christian Schertz, declare that she expressly condemned the "war against Ukraine."
Her thoughts are "with the victims of this war and their families".
As a result of the statement, the Russian star soprano fell out of favor in Russia and saw her scheduled performances there canceled.
Her German management from the Berlin agency Center Stage Artist (CSAM) had previously parted ways with her, and most of her performances in Germany and Europe had already been cancelled.
The background was Netrebko's closeness to Vladimir Putin and his politics before the Ukraine war: the singer celebrated her 50th birthday in the Kremlin last year and welcomed the annexation of Crimea.
Regensburg, Cologne and Hamburg
Now Netrebko, who lives mostly in Austria, is apparently making a comeback on European stages despite the massive criticism she has received: after recent performances in Monaco and Paris, she also wants to sing in Germany again.
Netrebko will come this year together with her husband Yusif Eyvazov for concerts in Regensburg, the Cologne Philharmonic and the Hamburg Elbphilharmonie, among others.
This was announced on Friday by Deutsche Entertainment AG, which is responsible for organizing the events.
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After criticism of the Ukraine war: Now Anna Netrebko is no longer allowed to appear in Russia either
Opera star in crisis: Anna Netrebko and her management end cooperationBy Thomas Schmoll
Shortly after the expulsion from her Berlin agency, it became known that Netrebko would be managed by Maxim Berin, based in Monaco.
He had previously only represented the artist in Eastern Europe, now he takes care of her concerns worldwide.
In Monaco last month, Netrebko made her first appearance since the start of the war in Ukraine on the stage of the Monte Carlo Opera, followed by a concert at the Paris Philharmonic on Wednesday.
There Netrebko interpreted works by Rachmaninoff, Debussy and Tchaikovsky.
Some of the reviews were enthusiastic.
The Scala in Milan and the Arena Di Verona
The Ukrainian embassy, meanwhile, reacted with severe criticism to the Paris appearance.
It was outrageous that the concert took place.
The dissonance between French public opinion supporting Ukraine and the hypocrisy of audiences applauding the "Kremlin soprano" is sad, the diplomatic mission said.
A few dozen demonstrators had demonstrated against the concert in front of the Paris concert stage.
A world tour by Netrebko is planned for 2023.
As announced by Deutsche Entertainment AG, performances at such prestigious stages as the Scala in Milan, in the Arena Di Verona or in the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires are planned for the next year.
cbu/dpa