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Russian Opera Drops Top Soprano Over Ukraine Comments

by Agence France-Presse

   MOSCOW --

   A Russian opera said Thursday it had canceled a concert by Russian
   superstar soprano Anna Netrebko over her comments on Moscow's military
   operation in neighboring Ukraine.

   The 50-year-old singer who lives in the Austrian capital of Vienna on
   Wednesday "condemned" the operation, after she and other Russian
   artists in Europe and the United States came under pressure to publicly
   take a stance.

   The Novosibirsk Opera in Siberia canceled a concert at which she was to
   perform on June 2.

   "Living in Europe and having the opportunity to perform in European
   concert halls appears to be more important (for her) than the fate of
   the homeland," it said in a statement.

   But "our country is brimming with talent and the idols of yesterday
   will be replaced by others with a clear civic position."

   Netrebko, who has voiced pro-Kremlin views over the years, and in 2014
   posed with a flag in the separatist Donetsk region in Ukraine, also
   holds Austrian citizenship.

   Netrebko's statement on Wednesday was, however, not enough for the
   Metropolitan Opera in New York to reconsider its ban on her performance
   there.