Berlin State Opera Defends Anna Netrebko’s Return for 2025-26 Season
By Francisco Salazar(Credit: Staatsoper unter den linden)
Elisabeth Sonotka, Artistic Director of the Berlin State Opera, is defending the return of Anna Netrebko in the 2025-26 season.
The Artistic Director told B.Z., “She is truly an exceptional singer, I’m delighted that she’s coming back.”
When asked if she fears protests against the soprano, Sobotka said, “We haven’t heard anything more. I think it’s been recognized that Anna Netrebko was a scapegoat. And overall, the situation is very confusing; there’s much more to be upset about now, especially in light of the lack of support for Ukraine.”
Netrebko returned to the Berlin State Opera in 2023 to perform “Macbeth,” and this past fall she opened a new production of “Nabucco.” Both productions saw protests, but critics raved about the star soprano. She is set to return this spring for “Il Trovatore” and next season, she will sing a new production of “Un Ballo in Maschera” in April 2026.
Since the War in Ukraine began, Netrebko expressed her condemnation of the war and has not returned to Russia.
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