The Royal Ballet and Opera must reconsider its invitation to Anna Netrebko
|
Version 0 of 1. The Russian singer is symbol of cultural propaganda for a regime that is responsible for serious war crimes in Ukraine, say co-signatories including Sergiy Kyslytsya, Andriy Kurkov, Helen Clark and Alex Sobel MP For Ukrainians, the UK’s unwavering support – from its governments to its people and cultural institutions like the Royal Ballet and Opera – has been a vital source of strength and hope amid Russia’s brutal war of aggression. It is, therefore, with great pain that we witness the Royal Opera House inviting Anna Netrebko – a longtime symbol of cultural propaganda for a regime that is responsible for serious war crimes – to return to its stage in title roles. Even more troubling is the statement by the chief executive of the Royal Ballet and Opera suggesting that its earlier support for Ukraine “was aligned with the global consensus at the time” and that its position has since changed due to “complex geopolitics”. We must ask: do Russia’s recent escalated attacks on peaceful Ukrainian cities and civilians and its intentional and systematic attempts to erase Ukrainian culture fall into this category of complexity, somehow justifying Netrebko’s return? Can the Royal Opera credibly claim neutrality and integrity while offering its stage to someone who, in 2014, publicly waved the flag of “Novorossiya”, the Kremlin’s separatist project in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, parts of which remain under Russian military occupation? The Royal Opera now faces a defining choice: between status and responsibility, between profit and values, between silence and conscience. We urge you to remain, as you consistently have, on the ethical side of art – and of history. Sergiy Kyslytsya First deputy foreign minister of UkraineAndriy Kurkov Author, PEN UkraineHelen Clark Former prime minister of New ZealandAlex Sobel MP Labour (Co-op), Leeds Central and Headingley, and chair, all-party parliamentary group on UkraineJohn Whittingdale MP Vice-chair, all-party parliamentary group on Ukraine; member, foreign affairs committeeRoger Gale MP Conservative, Herne Bay and SandwichScott Arthur MP Labour, Edinburgh South West Chris Law MP SNP, Dundee CentralBlair McDougall MP Labour, East Renfrewshire; member, foreign affairs committeeJohanna Baxter MP Labour, Paisley and Renfrewshire SouthBernard-Henri Lévy Philosopher, journalist, film-maker and public intellectualMstyslav Chernov Producer, film-makerSerhiy Zhadan Author, translatorRoza Tapanova Director, Babyn Yar national historical and memorial reserveKathy Nalywajko President, Ukrainian Institute of AmericaLydia Zaininger Executive director, Ukrainian Institute of AmericaBohdana Pivnenko Violinist, general director and artistic director, National Ensemble of Soloists Kyiv CamerataSvitlana Azarova Composer, The Hague, NetherlandsDr Olesya Khromeychuk Historian, writer, director of the Ukrainian Institute LondonOlia Hercules Chef, award-winning author and activistPetro Rewko Chairman of the board of directors, Association of Ukrainians in Great BritainFedir Kurlak Chief executive and member of the board, Association of Ukrainians in Great BritainIryna Terlecky Chair, Ukrainian Women’s Association; board member, Association of Ukrainians in Great BritainInna Hryhorovych Chair, Association of Ukrainian Teachers in Great Britain; director, Ukrainian St Mary’s TrustAnna Fedeczko Chair, Ukrainian Youth Association in Great BritainDr Roman Cregg President, Ukrainian Medical Association of the UKViktoriya Shtanko CEO, Ukraine Appeal Natalia Ravlyuk Director, Support Ukraine/London EuroMaidanIryna Rapiy Deputy director of Support Ukraine/board committee member of AUGB LondonDr Tetyana Vovnyanko Trustee, British-Ukrainian AidMarta Mulyak Head, Plast Ukrainian Scouts in Great BritainMick Antoniw MS Senedd4Ukraine groupDanylo Nikiforov Founder, Ukrainian Students Union in the UKProf Dennis Ougrin Vice-president, Ukrainian Medical Association of the United KingdomAlex Lidagovsky SculptorAliona Hlivco Founder and CEO, St James’s Foreign Policy GroupKateryna Babkina WriterDasha Nepochatova DPhil student, New College, University of OxfordAlexandra Kutas Disability advocate and humanitarian leaderMaria Springis Director, producer and filmmaker, Dreams Into Reality ProductionOksana Lovochkina CEO, Ukrainian Medical CharityDr Olha Mukha Senior strategist in strategic communications and human rightsAntonina Grebeniuk Founder, Ukraine Aid and Welfare, BristolAlina Luts Founder and director, Ukrainian Social Club CICKseniia Iaremych Legal counselMaria Romanenko Journalist, editor, public speaker and activistVadym Granovskiy United Kingdom Cezve/Ibrik champion and baristaEla Czuruk Group, lead volunteer, 1st Plast London Ukrainian ScoutsTetyana Birch Executive trustee, The Chernobyl Relief Foundation in the UKNataliia Horbenko Director, Ukrainian Art House in LondonOksana Miletska Trustee, Women Fight For Ukraine FoundationViktoriya Kiose Journalist and director, UABeyondKostiantyn Bidnenko Film-maker and producerProf Olga Onuch Professor of comparative and Ukrainian politics, University of ManchesterDr Daria Mattingly Senior lecturer in European history, University of ChichesterIvan Kozlenko Writer, film scholar, University of Cambridge |