With the law in hand, Anna Netrebko may have everything to win if she decides to sue the opera houses and auditoriums that, when the Russian invasion of Ukraine broke out, did not hesitate to cancel their performances and avoid their public appearances. She was a "friend" of Vladimir Putin, as well as the most famous soprano of the century. A disastrous combination for the Russian artist –whom she had allowed herself to be photographed with separatist flags in the Donbass–, but very opportune for the flagships of culture in Western countries to stage her rejection of the warlike invasion with great fanfare. .
Now it is the Municipal House of Prague that has canceled its October performance due to pressure from the City Council, whose coalition coincides with that of the Czech government. The decision has been made, according to the artist's agency, by mutual agreement and without her demanding compensation. Where Netrebko is going all out is in New York. Last February he filed a complaint through the American Musical Artists Union, whose arbitrator ordered the Metropolitan Opera to pay him more than $200,000 (181,000 euros) for 13 canceled performances, but rejected Netrebko's request for $400,000 (360,000 euros). ) additional due to commitments that had been discussed for the next seasons: Manon Lescaut, Tosca, Macbeth and The Queen of Spades.
Thus, two weeks ago the singer – who lives in Austria and has also been canceled by the government of her country – sued the Met and its director, Peter Gelb, for cutting her off in 2022 by not publicly repudiating her support for Putin. In her lawsuit filed in District Court in Manhattan, she alleges defamation, breach of contract and other violations. She asks for $400,000 in damages and economic losses: The Met caused her, she says, severe mental and emotional distress, including "depression, humiliation, shame, stress and anxiety, and emotional pain and suffering."
In Prague, the singer invited her Czech fans to see her in Vienna, Verona, Berlin, Paris, Naples and La Scala in Milan.
