(Credit: Tim Osipov)

The Mayor of Arezzo Alessandro Ghinelli has confirmed Anna Netrebko’s concert in Arezzo at the Teatro Petrarca.

The mayor released a statement regarding the concert noting that, “we shared the principle of independence of art and culture and for this reason unanimously the CDA of the Fondazione guido d’Arezzo decided to confirm Anna Netrebko. Our support for the Ukrainian people in this war is not in question. It’s been consuming for almost a year, and it’s evident our choice is confirmed by facts. We are against this war, but the message of art goes further.”

He added, “for Arezzo, Anna Netrebko’s concert represents the occasion to be able to attend a very unique and of great value show. We have therefore decided to confirm the appointment fully convinced of the superiority of the message that culture is able to communicate with the auspicious that culture, in this case, music, helps to achieve the necessary peace. A clear message that the concert, scheduled for February 7 at the Teatro Petrarca, will give will be in the soprano’s interpretation of a song composed by a Russian musician on the lyrics of a Ukrainian poet.”

The news comes after a petition was created in order to stop Netrebko’s Italian concerts. The petition led by Natalya Gebrich as well as other Ukrainian activists and journalists called for the cancelation of the recital and claim that Netrebko performed for terrorists in 2014 at the Teatro Donestk. The petition also claims that in 2014 Netrebko’s concerts were canceled in New York in Berlin. To date, the petition, which was started more than a week ago has only acquired 778 to date.

Netrebko is set to continue performing in Italy throughout the year at the Teatro Sam Carlo di Napoli, the Arena di Verona, and the Teatro alla Scala.