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The opera singers Anna Netrebko and her husband Yusif Eyvazov at the Salzburg Festival.
Photo: Franz Neumayr / APA / picture alliance / dpa
Controversy has broken out about the planned appearance of the Russian opera singer Anna Netrebko at the International May Festival in Wiesbaden.
The state of Hesse and the state capital of Wiesbaden spoke out against the singer's appearance on Monday.
Hesse's Prime Minister Boris Rhein (CDU) also wants to give up his patronage for the festival.
In contrast, the Hessian State Theater in Wiesbaden is sticking to the plans.
The joint statement from the city and country said the festival is dedicated to those who are in prison for their opinions, such as Russian activist Alexei Navalny.
In view of this, it cannot be explained why Netrebko should appear at the festival.
Intendant Uwe Eric Laufenberg was unsuccessfully asked not to do so.
The internationally acclaimed soprano Netrebko was criticized for her alleged closeness to President Vladimir Putin after the start of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.
Her manager, Miguel Esteban, recently said it was incorrect to associate the soprano with government or war.
Last year, the singer said through her lawyer, among other things, that she was not a member of any political party or connected to any Russian leader.
She regrets that her actions and statements in the past could sometimes be misinterpreted.
The Staatstheater Wiesbaden emphasized that Netrebko will make her debut as Abigaille in Giuseppe Verdi's opera "Nabucco" at the festival on May 5th and 7th.
»We in the western world, which we are currently experiencing how our freedom in Ukraine unfortunately has to be defended with weapons and human lives, must never exclude artists and people who belong to us and who we need to fight against unjust regimes like that of Vladimir Putin urgently need on our side," it said in a statement.
Two Ukrainian productions will also be screened.
On May 9, the Taras Shevchenko Theater from Kharkiv will perform Camus' play Caligula.
On May 24th, the Ukrainian National Orchestra will perform Verdi's »Requiem«.
xvc/dpa
