Following the announcement of the Bayerische Staatsoper, General Director Serge Dorny addressed the question of Anna Netrebko in future engagements.

The General Director said to BR Klassik, “I’ll wait and see. Also to be able to assess the contradictory statements made by these posts. So far, Anna Netrebko is not in our schedule. Let’s see how things develop. But I have certain reservations and I want to be clear about it and see how the action really is.”

Dorny’s comments follow his March 1 statement in which he canceled her contracts stating, “Due to Russia’s terrible war of aggression on Ukraine and a lack of sufficient distancing of Valery Gergiev and Anna Netrebko, the Bayerische Staatsoper will cancel the existing engagements. For the Bayerische Staatsoper, respect for each other and dialogue with each other are absolutely essential for peaceful and humanitarian coexistence.” 

Netrebko has since distanced herself from Putin, condemned the war, and appeared under the Ukrainian at the Monte Carlo Opera. She also got many of her contracts in Russia canceled and has been called an enemy of the state by Russian politicians.

Dorny’s comments also come as many artists at the Bayerische Staatsoper continue to perform at the Mariinsky Theatre under Putin supporter Valery Gergiev. Last month Ekaterina Semenchuk sang at the Mariinsky Theatre in numerous productions and this week the mezzo was just awarded the Casta Diva Award. The Mariinsky Theatre is a State-run theater, which Putin has been supporting for many years.

OperaWire reached out to the Bayerische Staatsoper regarding performers on its roster continuing to sing in Russia and has yet to receive no response.