Anna Netrebko
(c) Werner/Tsui
Opera singer Anna Netrebko has published the following statement: « I have taken some time to reflect because I think the situation is too serious to comment on without really giving it thought. First of all: I am opposed to this war. I am Russian and I love my country but I have many friends in Ukraine and the pain and suffering right now breaks my heart. I want this war to end and for people to be able to live in peace. This is what I hope and pray for.
I want to add one thing, however: forcing artists, or any public figure, to voice their political opinions in public and to denounce their homeland is not right. This should be a free choice. Like many of my colleagues, I am not a political person. I am not an expert in politics. I am an artist and my purpose is to unite people across political divides. »
This statement has to be commented.
Firstly, it is a very good thing that Anna Netrebko officially distanced herself from Putin’s war. Because this is Putin’s war and not so much the war of Russian people. And nobody forced her to do so, unlike in the Gergiev case. But with this man we are on a totally different level. Netrebko is not so close to Putin than Valery Gergiev, a real vassal.
Secondly, she holds an Austrian passport.
And then: she speaks of uniting people through political divides. This is clearly downplaying the events in Ukraine. Here we do not speak about political divides but a cruel and barbaric war.
And finally we need to think of her, being close to Ukrainian separatists. This is a past one should not forget.
