Anna Netrebko. (source: TASR)
Russian opera singer Anna Netrebko should perform in Slovakia, according to a contract in the Central Registry of Contracts, reports private TV Markíza.
Slovak National Theatre (SND) is to pay for the performance, that includes another opera singer and a conductor as well, €230,000 without VAT. By inviting her, the theatre wants to start a tradition of showcasing world singers every season. According to SND, expenses will be covered from donations and selling tickets, which will start in January.
However, it is not known what the money will be used for. According to TV Markíza, the registry has only an entry regarding the contract, and SND provided no further details upon asking.
Former SND director Matej Drlička, who was dismissed over alleged mismanagement last year by Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová, told the television that €10,000 should be enough to cover for the conductor and another singer. "This means the rest is for Netrebko. In the context of consolidation of public money, money saving, I'll leave for the audience to decide whether it is okay for a national institution to pay such an extreme sum," he said.
Rudolf Héger, head of the Music Production company that organises the performance, says the "sum is absolutely okay".
When Russia invaded Ukraine, Netrebko faced pressure to distance herself from Russian President Vladimir Putin. She later did so and condemned the war as well. Her concert was cancelled, for example, in Prague as well as in New York. She currently performs in the La Scala opera house in Milan, Italy.
A few days ago, dozens of members of the SND Drama Company distanced themselves from the upcoming performance, saying the invitation is inappropriate for several reasons, the biggest being that despite condemning the war and saying she is not in contact with any Russian leader, she is still one of Kremlin's "export articles". They add that in the past, she had supported Vladimir Putin and celebrated the annexation of Crimea.
"Increasing pro-Russian rhetoric and actions by government politicians, who are ever more openly expressing their sympathy for Putin's version of the world, precede her invitation. Together with the unclear background of her Anna invitation, we have an idea whom and what her SND performance will serve," they say in their statement, adding that the performance will not put the SND among the top opera houses, but will definitely put Slovakia among those who closed their eyes before the regime that has waged war in Ukraine for two years and is threatening Slovakia as well.
