In anticipation of the opening night of the Royal Ballet and Opera’s new production of “Tosca,” Oliver Mears is addressing the casting of Anna Netrebko.

In a new interview with the New York Times, Mears said it was the right time to bring the soprano back after six years and noted that it is her artistry that distinguishes her. He said, “Anna is a very instinctive performer and an extraordinary stage animal. I worked with her on Ponchielli’s ‘La Gioconda’ in Salzburg last year with Antonio Pappano. The qualities she showed in that project come very much to the fore. And of course, ‘Tosca’ is a piece that she knows extremely well, having performed it all over the world.”

Mears also noted that Netrebko had condemned the war in Ukraine and stated, “Anna has made her opposition to the war clear on several different occasions. She’s also not performed or even returned to Russia since the invasion of Ukraine. We’ve historically presented the greatest singers of the moment. And that’s what we will continue to do. But we of course exercise extraordinary care in all our decisions, and both Jakub and I felt that this was the right one, with this piece.”

The comments come as the London company has been under fire for hiring the Russian soprano, with the UK press expressing their opinions. There has also been a protest by Ukrainian activists claiming she is “Putin’s diva”  and saying she is Russian propaganda. The soprano’s manager Miguel Esteban, has responded to these criticisms and said, “The activists’ call for an end to the war must be heard, but the misguided and unsubstantiated claims fuelling their attempts to lasso a lone, non-political opera singer into their campaign must be vigorously called into question.”

Mears worked with Netrebko in 2024 in Salzburg in a production of “La Gioconda” and noted at the time that “She has made a very clear statement condemning the war in Ukraine. Tony (Antonio Pappano) and I feel we’re at a stage where we’re comfortable working with her.”

“Tosca” opens on Sept. 11 and runs through Oct. 7, 2025, with Aleksandra Kurzak also performing the title role.

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