Soprano Anna Netrebko is scheduled to give a recital at the Palm Beach Opera for its gala on Feb. 3 in what would be her first U.S. appearance in six years.
Considered the worldās top soprano, Netrebko was dropped by the Metropolitan Opera in 2022 after she refused a demand by Met general manager Peter Gelb that she repudiate Russia President President Vladimir Putin following Russiaās invasion of Ukraine. She has sued the Met, alleging defamation and breach of contract in a case that is pending.
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āArts organizations should not be involved in politics,ā Palm Beach Opera general director James Barbato said in a telephone interview Wednesday. āIn our opinion our mission is to connect people to explore what's universal in our humanity and Anna Netrebko has clearly and unequivocally spoken out in opposition to the war in Ukraine and distanced herself from the Russian government at great personal cost.ā
Netrebko has appeared in the past two years at major houses including the Vienna State Opera, Paris OpĆ©ra, Milanās Teatro alla Scala and Berlinās Staatsoper unter den Linden but had not been engaged in the U.S. or by The Royal Opera in London. She last appeared at the Met in 2019 in Verdiās āMacbethā and a New Year's Eve gala.
Netrebko will perform with pianist Ćngel RodrĆguez at the The Breakers hotel.
āI am honored to be lending my voice to the Palm Beach Operaās annual gala,ā Netrebko said in a statement Wednesday sent to The Associated Press.
Barbato said he began discussions with Netrebko's manager in January.
āIt was, a rare opportunity to present, an electrifying performer with one of the most beautiful voices of our lifetimes,ā he said.
Palm Beach Operaās season includes three performances each of Gounod's "RomĆ©o et Juliette" in January, Verdiās āLa Traviataā in February and Mozartās āLe Nozze di Figaroā in April. Casts have not been announced.
Past Palm Beach Opera galas featured Luciano Pavarotti, PlƔcido Domingo, JosƩ Carreras, RenƩe Fleming and Bryn Terfel, with Isabel Leonard (2024), Piotr Beczala (2023) and Nadine Sierra (2022) appearing in recent years.
āIt means a lot to me to be joining the remarkable list of illustrious singers that have participated in this celebration over the last decades,ā Netrebko said.