The Metropolitan Opera said Sunday that it will not contact performers or other institutions that have expressed support for the president Vladimir Putin Russia, to become the latest cultural organization to seek to distance itself from some Russian artists amid Mr. Putin Invasion of Ukraine.
Peter Gelb, general manager of the Met, said The Met, which has long hired Russians as top singers and has a productive partnership with the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, has an obligation to show support for the people of Ukraine.
“While we firmly believe in the warm friendship and cultural exchange that has long existed between artists and art institutions in Russia and the United States, we can no longer do business with artists or institutions that support or support Putin,” Gelb said in a video statement.
Gelb added that this policy will be in effect “until the invasion and killing are stopped, order is restored, and reparations are provided.”
The Met’s decision may affect artists such as star soprano Anna Netrebko, who has ties to Mr Putin and was once in the picture It bears the flag used by some Russian-backed separatist groups in Ukraine. Ms. Netrebko is scheduled to appear at the Turandot Hotel in the Met in Puccini from April 30th.
Ms Netrebko has tried to distance herself from the invasion, posting a statement Saturday on Instagram saying she “opposes this war”. She added a note of challenge, writing that “forcing artists or any public figure to express their political opinions publicly and denounce their country is not right.”
It was not clear if her statement would satisfy the new Met Test.
The company’s decision also likely means the end of its collaboration with Bolshoi, including a new production of Wagner’s “Lohengrin” scheduled for release next season. The Met used to rely on the Bolshoi for sets and stage costumes, but now he may have to change course.
“We’re struggling, but I think we’ll have no choice but to build our own crews and uniforms,” Gelb said in an interview Sunday night.
He added that he was saddened that the Bolshoi’s partnership, which began five years ago, will likely end – at least for the time being.
“It is terrible that technical relations, at least temporarily, are collateral damage to these actions by Putin,” he said.
The Met’s decision comes as performing arts institutions grapple with the ongoing fallout from Mr. Putin’s invasion. In recent days, Russian artists, famous everywhere in classical music, have come under pressure to condemn Mr. Putin’s actions or face the prospect of their engagements being cancelled.
Carnegie Hall and Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra dropped last week Two Russian artists, conductor Valery Gergiev and pianist Denis Matsuev, have been removed from a series of concerts planned due to the two men’s ties to Mr. Putin. Mr. Gergiev He is also in danger The loss of several key positions, including that of conductor of the Munich Orchestra and honorary conductor of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra.
On Sunday, Gergiev’s manager announced that he was ending his relationship with his client.
“It has become impossible for us, and obviously unwelcome, to defend the interests of Maestro Gergiev, one of the greatest orchestras of all time, an artist of vision loved and admired by so many of us, who will not or cannot finish,” said director, Marcus Felsner. , which is based in Munich, in a statement “expressed longstanding support for a regime that came to commit such crimes.”
London’s Royal Opera said on Friday it was canceling the Bolshoi Ballet’s planned residency this summer.
