© WireAPMetropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center
Peter Gelb, the Met's general manager, said that the Met, which has long employed Russians as top singers and has a producing partnership with the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, had an obligation to show support for the people of Ukraine. Gelb, in a video statement, said:
"While we believe strongly in the warm friendship and cultural exchange that has long existed between the artists and artistic institutions of Russia and the United States, we can no longer engage with artists or institutions that support Putin or are supported by him. The policy would be in effect until the invasion and killing has been stopped, order has been restored, and restitutions have been made."The Met's decision could affect artists like the superstar soprano Anna Netrebko, who has ties to Mr. Putin and was once pictured holding a flag used by some Russian-backed separatist groups in Ukraine. Ms. Netrebko is scheduled to appear at the Met in Puccini's Turandot beginning on April 30.
Ms. Netrebko has tried to distance herself from the invasion, posting a statement on Saturday on Instagram saying she was "opposed to this war." She added a note of defiance, writing that
"forcing artists, or any public figure, to voice their political opinions in public and to denounce their homeland is not right."It was unclear if her statement would satisfy the Met's new test.
The company's decision will also likely mean the end of its collaboration with the Bolshoi, including on a new production of Wagner's Lohengrin that is scheduled for next season. The Met was relying on the Bolshoi for the staging's sets and costumes, but now it might have to change course.
Gelb said in an interview:
"We're scrambling, but I think we'll have no choice but to physically build our own sets and costumes. It's terrible that artistic relationships, at least temporarily, are the collateral damage of these actions by Putin."He added that he was saddened that the Bolshoi partnership, which began five years ago, would likely come to an end — at least for the moment.
The Met's decision comes as performing arts institutions grapple with the ongoing fallout from Mr. Putin's invasion. In recent days Russian artists, long ubiquitous in classical music, have come under pressure to condemn Mr. Putin's actions or face the prospect of canceled engagements.
Carnegie Hall and the Vienna Philharmonic last week dropped two Russian artists, the conductor Valery Gergiev and the pianist Denis Matsuev, from a series of planned concerts because of the two men's ties to Mr. Putin. Mr. Gergiev is also in peril of losing several key posts, including as chief conductor of the Munich Philharmonic and as honorary conductor of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra.
On Sunday, Mr. Gergiev's manager announced he was ending his relationship with his client. The manager, Marcus Felsner, who is based in Munich, said in a statement:
"It has become impossible for us, and clearly unwelcome, to defend the interests of Maestro Gergiev, one of the greatest conductors of all time, a visionary artist loved and admired by many of us, who will not, or cannot, publicly end his long-expressed support for a regime that has come to commit such crimes."The Royal Opera House in London said on Friday it would cancel a residency by the Bolshoi Ballet planned for this summer.
The people of the USA and world do not want cancel culture. Many of the GREAT artists of this century are Russian trained, which was the best training in the world. World ballet has been blessed by Russian ballet dancers. World opera has been blessed by Russian singers. If I lived in NYC, I would choose not to attend the MET for this purely globalist supporting decision. Let them know New Yorkers.