Not a word about the war
Russia’s star Netrebko celebrates a “very good” year
The opera singer Anna Netrebko, who was criticized for being close to the Kremlin in the course of Russia’s war against Ukraine, published pictures of her New Year’s celebration on Instagram and took stock of a “very good” year 2022.
ARCHIVE – The Russian opera star Anna Netrebko 2022 in the courtyard of the Prince’s Castle St. Emmeram in Regensburg. Photo: Armin Weigel/dpa
While her Russian homeland continued to bomb Ukraine in the dark and cold with combat drones and rockets at the weekend, the 51-year-old, who lives in Vienna, showed up at the festively set New Year’s table in an evening dress with her family. You can also see her bringing in the food.
A few days earlier, she had written in a post that the end of the year was cause for reflection. “And I should say that despite all the storms that have come down on me, this year has been a very good one!” she wrote. “It was better than the last.” While many Russians are affected by Western sanctions over Moscow’s war against Ukraine, Vienna-based Netrebko showed up at the richly set table.
The internationally acclaimed soprano was criticized for her alleged closeness to President Vladimir Putin after the start of the Russian war against Ukraine. In the past, she had also been photographed with the flag of the pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. In the course of criticism and the cancellation of concerts and opera performances in Germany, the USA and other western countries, she had distanced herself from Putin in writing. This brought her sharp criticism and performance cancellations in Russia.
«My position is clear. I am not a member of any political party, nor am I connected to any Russian leader,” she said through her German lawyer in March. “I recognize and regret that some of my actions or statements in the past could be misinterpreted. In fact, I’ve only met President Putin a handful of times in my life, most notably at awards shows for my art or at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.”
(SDA)