Europe’s major opera houses continue to welcome back world-renowned soprano Anna Netrebko, despite the political controversy that erupted three years ago. After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the singer faced widespread cancellations due to her previous support of President Vladimir Putin. Today, however, the star of the opera world is once again featured on the playbills of Europe’s most prestigious cultural venues.
According to The New York Times, in the upcoming season, Anna Netrebko will perform at two major opera houses she had not visited since the beginning of the war — Zurich Opera and the Royal Opera House in London. This marks an almost complete restoration of her position on the European stage. The one notable exception remains the Metropolitan Opera in New York, where Netrebko reigned as a prima donna for over two decades.
Met Opera General Manager Peter Gelb announced the company’s decision to sever ties with Netrebko three years ago, citing her “close association with Putin.” He stated that he believed Netrebko had made a “disingenuous effort to distance herself from the Russian war effort.” Gelb declined to comment on her recent European engagements.
In response, Netrebko filed a lawsuit against the Met, accusing the company of discrimination, defamation, and breach of contract. In 2023, a federal court narrowed the lawsuit to a gender discrimination claim, and the case remains pending.
Despite setbacks in the United States, European theaters have gradually reopened their doors to the soprano. Netrebko has already returned to La Scala in Milan, the Berlin State Opera, the Vienna State Opera, and the Paris Opera. Now London and Zurich are joining this list.
Zurich Opera announced that Netrebko will perform in Verdi’s La Forza del Destino in November 2025. Presenting the 2025–2026 season, artistic director Matthias Schulz said that “Anna Netrebko deserves to be given this chance,” according to media reports.
It is worth noting that in 2022, the singer withdrew from scheduled performances in Zurich. At the time, outgoing director Andreas Homoki remarked that “citizens of repressive regimes cannot be judged by the same standards as people living in Western European democracies.” However, he also emphasized that the theater’s “decisive condemnation” of Vladimir Putin’s actions was “not compatible with Anna Netrebko’s public position.”
The Royal Opera House in London stated that Netrebko will open the new season with a premiere of Puccini’s Tosca. She is also scheduled to appear in a revival of Turandot this December and give a solo recital next year. The theater clarified its stance with the following statement:
“Russian nationality does not equate to alignment or association with the current Kremlin regime. Anna has made clear statements condemning Putin’s war in Ukraine and has not returned to Russia since 2022.”
A representative for Netrebko declined to comment.
Following the invasion, Netrebko issued a statement condemning the war in Ukraine, but she has refrained from explicitly criticizing President Putin and has not elaborated on her past support for him.
Each of her performances in Europe is met with polarized reactions: protests on one side, standing ovations and glowing critical reviews on the other.
Netrebko is also making efforts to return to the American stage. In February, she appeared at a gala concert for Palm Beach Opera in Florida, but no major U.S. engagements have been announced so far.
Today, it is becoming increasingly clear that — despite her political past — Europe’s leading cultural institutions are ready to once again embrace one of the greatest operatic voices of our time. As The New York Times notes, Anna Netrebko’s return to the spotlight signals a shift in focus — from politics back to art.
This article was prepared based on materials published by The New York Times. The author does not claim authorship of the original text but presents their interpretation of the content for informational purposes.
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