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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 world’s 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 Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. She has sued the Met, alleging defamation and breach of contract in a case that is pending.
“Arts organizations should not be involved in politics,” Palm Beach Opera general director James Barbato said in a telephone interview Wednesday. “In 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.”
Netrebko has appeared in the past two years at major houses including the Vienna State Opera, Paris Opéra, Milan’s Teatro alla Scala and Berlin’s 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 Verdi’s “Macbeth” and a New Year's Eve gala.
Netrebko will perform with pianist Ángel Rodríguez at the The Breakers hotel.
“I am honored to be lending my voice to the Palm Beach Opera’s annual gala,” Netrebko said in a statement Wednesday sent to The Associated Press.
Barbato said he began discussions with Netrebko's manager in January.
“It was, a rare opportunity to present, an electrifying performer with one of the most beautiful voices of our lifetimes,” he said.
Palm Beach Opera’s season includes three performances each of Gounod's "Roméo et Juliette" in January, Verdi’s “La Traviata” in February and Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro” in April. Casts have not been announced.
Past Palm Beach Opera galas featured Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo, José Carreras, Renée Fleming and Bryn Terfel, with Isabel Leonard (2024), Piotr Beczala (2023) and Nadine Sierra (2022) appearing in recent years.
“It means a lot to me to be joining the remarkable list of illustrious singers that have participated in this celebration over the last decades,” Netrebko said.