Mentioning the Putin-banned word ‘war' and certainly not playing with words that can be misinterpreted or phrases that need to be understood by reading between the lines, Anna Netrebko has issued a “STATEMENT FROM ANNA NETREBKO FOLLOWING RECENT MEDIA REPORTS”. On social media channels she wrote:
I expressly condemn the war on Ukraine and my thoughts are with the victims of this war and their families.
My position is clear. I am not a member of any political party nor am I allied with any leader of Russia. I acknowledge and regret that past actions or statements of mine could have been misinterpreted. In fact, I have met President Putin only a handful of times in my entire life, most notably on the occasion of receiving awards in recognition of my art or at the Olympics opening ceremony. I have otherwise never received any financial support from the Russian Government, and live and am a tax resident in Austria.
I love my homeland of Russia and only seek peace and unity through my art. After taking my announced break, I will resume performing in late May, initially in Europe.
Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano') about dance, opera, music and photography for people “who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like”. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy.
His scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman's Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the ‘Danza in Italia' column for Dancing Times magazine.
BRAVO ANNA.
Better late than never! This statement befits her great art and the values it represents as well as the European democratic principles guaranteed by her acquired Austrian nationality. We are looking forward to her new European assignments!