(Credit Vladimir Shirokov)

As Anna Netrebko prepares her return to the Royal Ballet and Opera, MPs and Ukrainian artists have signed a letter against the soprano’s appearances.

In a letter sent to the Guardian, the artists and MP claim that Netrebko is “a symbol of cultural propaganda for a regime responsible for war crimes.”  They also question if the “Royal Opera can credibly claim neutrality and integrity while offering its stage to someone who, in 2014, publicly waved the flag of ‘Novorossiya,’ the Kremlin’s separatist project in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, parts of which remain under Russian military occupation.”

The letter concludes, “The Royal Opera now faces a defining choice: between status and responsibility, between profit and values, between silence and conscience. We urge you to remain, as you consistently have, on the ethical side of art – and of history.”

The letter was signed by such prominent artists as filmmakers Mstyslav Chernov and Kostiantyn Bidnenko, and such politicians as Helen Clark, the former Prime Minister of New Zealand.

In response to the letter, Netrebko’s manager, Miguel Esteban, said the soprano “had never shown support for Russian separatists” and had condemned the war in three social media statements and two interviews. He added that Netrebko had not returned to Russia since the full-scale invasion.

When the Royal Opera House announced in April that the soprano would return to the London stage, Music Director Jakub Hrůša said, “You ask me about Anna. What made me decide to engage those two singers [Netrebko and Kurzak] is quality — the need to have an absolutely first class artistic approach. And I see it in both ladies.” He added that she is “one of the best performers in that fach [category of role]. The ROH should be connected to the best singers, and she belongs to their number.”

Hrůša noted that “I know she condemned the war and I have no reason not to take her statement seriously.”

In 2024, Netrebko also collaborated with Oliver Mears on a production of “La Gioconda” and back then, he said, “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.”

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Netrebko has faced criticism and protests even after condemning the war three times and distancing herself from Putin. She was also canceled from her performances in Russia and was called a traitor by Russian politicians. However, she has steadily returned to major theaters including the Teatro alla Scala, Berlin State Opera, Wiener Staatsoper, Paris Opera, Teatro Real de Madrid, and Gran Teatre del Liceu.

Upon her return to the Berlin State Opera, the theater defended its decision, noting, “Since we value the artistic personality Anna Netrebko, who is undoubtedly one of the greatest voices of our time, and we have a long-standing partnership with her, we announced that we would seek dialogue with her. This took place between the director, the artist and her management and the director was able to get a personal impression of the authenticity of her information. It is important to take a differentiated approach here and to distinguish between before and after the outbreak of war. Since then, Anna Netrebko has not accepted any engagements in Russia and her management has confirmed to us that there are still no plans for any appearances in Russia. She has taken a clear position and distanced herself both through her statement and through her actions since the outbreak of war. That has to be acknowledged.”

The Wiener Staatsoper also defended their decision to collaborate with the soprano, stating, “while there is ‘no basis’ for artistic collaboration with people who identify with the war, its operators, or its goals, individuals should not be excluded from the stages just because of their nationality. As in autumn 2022 with Anna Netrebko’s performances at the Wiener Staatsoper, this determination still applies.”

Netrebko opens the Royal Ballet & Opera’s new production of “Tosca” on Sept. 11, 2,025 and is set to also revive a production of “Turandot.” She will also perform a recital in the summer of 2026.