Ukrainian First Lady Elena Zelenskaya, in an interview with the British edition of The Times, did not want to restrain herself and expressed disappointment about the return of Russian soprano Anna Netrebko to the stage of the Royal Opera House in London. Moreover, indignation followed immediately after the words of gratitude that she expressed to the UK.
"I was negatively impressed when Anna Netrebko was invited to perform at the Royal Opera House again. I know that many representatives of the cultural and artistic elite and politicians opposed this decision. But it happened anyway," Zelenskaya stated.
She considers art to be a manifestation of "soft power" that can influence an international audience.
"A country can lose influence somewhere, but gain a lot thanks to sports, diplomacy, even cuisine. When people see a great performance with a great voice, they think, "Wow, maybe the country that brought up such a wonderful singer is not so bad," she explained.
Zelenskaya added that she was more sad about this situation than offended. At the same time, she recalled that the Metropolitan Opera (New York) did not resume cooperation with the Russian singer, despite her lawsuit and financial losses of the theater.
Journalist Janice Turner, who conducted the interview, was amazed by the discussion of this situation.
"Then I ask how the UK can help Ukraine, waiting for another soft diplomatic response. But, having expressed sincere gratitude for the acceptance of Ukrainian refugees, military and economic support, she turns to the issue that clearly angered her," Turner said.
As EADaily reported, on September 11, Netrebko appeared on stage for the first time after a six-year hiatus in London in the play Tosca by Giacomo Puccini staged by Oliver Mears.
On the eve of the performances, more than 50 Ukrainian artists, an inter-party group of deputies of the British Parliament and the former Prime Minister of New Zealand in an open appeal demanded that Netrebko not be allowed to appear on the stage of the Royal Opera in London in the new season.
The organizer of the signatories is the first Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Sergey Kislitsa, he was sure that Netrebko could and should simply be replaced by someone unrelated to Russia.
Despite active efforts to confront the Russian singer on the London stage, tickets for performances with Netrebko's participation were literally swept away in a matter of days.
A rally of activists with Ukrainian flags was expected to gather in front of the theater on the day of the premiere. However, the management of Covent Garden was ready for such a development.
The new musical director of the theater, Yakub Grusha, said in an interview that Netrebko is "one of the best" sopranos in the world.
"The theater should be associated with the best singers, and she is one of them," he emphasized.
In the event that protests of Ukrainians begin in front of the theater, Grusha expressed his readiness to "act according to circumstances."
He also noted that Netrebko will appear in Puccini's opera Turandot and in one of the concerts accompanied by a piano.