After Ukraine’s Ambassador to Switzerland Irina Venediktova sent letters to members of the Zürich Cantonal Council demanding that performances by Anna Netrebko and other artists at the Zurich Opera House be canceled, the Zürich Opera has noted that it will move forward with performances.

According to Die Weltwoche, Venediktova expressed “deep concern” and also noted that a “personal exchange” took place between the ambassador, artistic director Matthias Schulz, and Markus Notter, chairman of the Zürich Opera House’s board of directors and former Zurich government councilor.

When the opera house did not abide by her concerns, she involved the members of the Zürich City Council and sent a letter to all parliamentarians in the city on the Limmat.  In the letter, she said, “As representatives of the strong democracy in Zurich, I ask you to use your influence to cancel Netrebko’s planned performances” and added that Netrebko’s performance puts “not only the reputation” of the opera house at stake, but also “the reputation of the city of Zürich itself.” She also accused the soprano of being Putin’s trusted person and criticized her for not distancing herself from Putin, identifying the Russian president as the aggressor.”

The ambassador also aimed her attacks at Russian artists Stanislav Vorobyov and Elena Guseva, hoping they would also be disinvited.

The Zürich Opera’s General Director Matthias Schulz noted that Netrebko is “one of the best in the world” and therefore would be moving forward with her performances in “La Forza del Destino.”

Since the war in Ukraine began, Netrebko has not returned to Russia and has made three statements noting she condemned the war.

“La Forza del Destino” opens on Nov. 2 with Anna Netrebko, Yusif Eyvazov, Stanislav Vorobyov, Elena Guseva, George Petean, Riccardo Massi, Annalisa Stroppa, and Michele Pertusi. Gianandrea Noseda conducts the production by Valentina Carrasco.

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