Overview
- The Staatsoper Unter den Linden premiere of Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera drew cheers for Anna Netrebko inside, and about 50 people with Ukrainian flags protested outside.
- Demonstrators chanted “No stage for Putin supporters” and “Russia is a terrorist state,” targeting her perceived closeness to Vladimir Putin.
- Netrebko sang the role of Amelia in the new production, and conductor Enrique Mazzola led a performance that won strong applause for the cast and orchestra.
- Director Rafael R. Villalobos wove in queer ballroom scenes and references to the AIDS crisis, and parts of his staging were met with boos.
- Her team and the Staatsoper say she has publicly distanced herself from Russia and opposes the war, though critics point to her 2021 Kremlin birthday and dual Russian–Austrian citizenship.