“Putin's diva”, forbidden in Cluj. The Music Academy has changed their minds of Anna Netrebko concert

Soprano Anna Netrebko will not participate in the concert organized by the Cluj Music Academy and I will not receive the title of Doctor Honoris Causa, as the institution had announced. The artist is on the first page of newspapers in the UK due to protests vis-à-vis his relationship with Vladimir Putin.

Anna Netrebko is one of the most talented soprano. Photo: Profimedia

The rector of the National Academy of Music Gheorghe Dima in Cluj-Napoca, Vasile Jucan, announced, at the beginning of the year, several special events on the occasion of moving to the new headquarters of the institution, one of the most modern music campuses in Romania.

Among them, on October 6, the Academy, in collaboration with the Transylvania Philharmonic Orchestra, was to organize an artistic event attended by soloist Anna Netrebko.

“It will be in collaboration with the Transilvania Philharmonic Orchestra, conductors Lawrence Foster and Cristian Mandeal, soloists Anna Netrebko, Stefan Pop, George Petean and Ala Heritage. Also on this occasion, the soprano Anna Netrebko will be given the title of Doctor Honoris Causa of the National Music Academy Dima Cluj-Napoca ”, detailed the rector.

The Senate of the Academy proposed, on April 8, 2025, “”Granting the title of Doctor Honoris Causa of the National Academy of Music “Gheorghe Dima” from Cluj-Napoca (ANMGD) of the international renowned soprano Anna Netrebko”.

Anna Netrebko's name is these days on the first pages of newspapers in the UK, because of the stupid vis-à-vis her on the Royal Ballet and Opera stage in London.

“The protesters targeted Royal Opera House because of the show held by” Putin's diva “” – is the title of an article published, last Friday, in The Guardian.

Dozens of protesters gathered in front of Royal Opera House in London to prove against a famous Russian opera singer, nicknamed “Putin's diva”, who sang on the evening of the Tosca show, the British publication shows.

“Anna Netrebko, 53, one of the world's best -known soprano, appreciated at the big international opera theaters, denied that it would be an ally of the Russian leader. It was marginalized by the most important opera institutions in the months after the invasion of Russia in Ukraine, from February 2022, although it issued a statement by which it unequivocally condemned the war ”the quoted source shows.

Netrebko has not played in Russia since 2022, but received the title of “People's Artist” in 2008 from Vladimir Putin.

However, the controversies reappeared because of the soprano's past. In 2014, Netrebko made a donation for the opera in Donetk, after Russia occupied the city, and was photographed holding the flag of the separatists of “Novorossia”, along with a pro-Kremlin politician. Later, she said she did not understand what that flag was.

The rector of the Academy: “I gave up for political reasons, unfortunately”

“Anna Netrebko will not come to the concert, for reasons that I cannot say now, political reasons, it is probably the political context. The concert will remain, but without it. It will be a concert of areas, but without Anna Netrebko,” unfortunately “explained the rector for the “truth”.

In addition, the ceremony of granting the title of Doctor Honoris Causa will not take place, because the proposal of the Academy Senate has been voted. “We received all kinds of proposals and the idea was to postpone the moment. I did not cancel it, we postpone it a little.”

Protests in London

Anna Netrebko's presence on the stage in London was called “a shame” on Friday, although the soprano condemned Russia's invasion in Ukraine

Dozens of protesters gathered in front of Royal Opera House in London to demonstrate against a famous Russian opera singer, nicknamed “Putin's diva”, who sang on the evening of the Tosca show.

About 50 protesters gathered in front of the London theater, among them Natalia Filatova, 48, wrapped in the flag of Ukraine.

“I live in London for 21 years. I used to love Royal Opera House and everything they did, but this decision is a shame. There are so many great opera singers, there was no need to be. I think the image of the royal work was severely affected. I do not understand how it can be called royal theater when this country supports Ukraine from the day,” she told The Guardian.

Another protester, Oleksandra Vietrova, 43, wore a banner that wrote: “Behind the curtain, blood and tanks.” “Unfortunately, the civilized communication did not bring any result, which is why I came here“She said.

The demonstration ended with a moment dedicated to Ukraine: the participants lit yellow candles and played the national anthem “Șce us Vmerla Ukraïny”. Last month, over 50 Ukrainian writers and artists, a multi-party group of British parliamentarians and the former prime minister of New Zealand, Helen Clark, asked for Royal Ballet and Opera (RBO) to give up Netrebko in the new London season, calling it “a long-term symbol of cultural propaganda for a regime in charge of a war.”

What did the British culture institution respond

In a letter, the signatories said that RBO is facing “A defining choice: between status and responsibility, between profit and values, between silence and consciousness.” “V.We urge you to stay, as you have done constantly, on the ethical side of art – and history ”they added.

RBO replied that, being the “House of Singers”, he has the duty to present the greatest performers, stressing that Netrebko has condemned the invasion. Other important opera theaters in Europe have invited it in the last two years. Her general manager, Miguel Esteban, said that the artist “never showed support for Russian separatists” and that he condemned the war in three public statements on social networks and two interviews. “He has not returned to Russia since the beginning of the large -scale invasion.”he added.

“I admit and regret that some of my past actions or statements could have been misinterpreted. I met a few times but I never had a close relationship with him.”, Said the artist.

At the beginning of the month, RBO withdrew the production of Tosca from the Opera in Tel Aviv, after almost 200 members signed an open letter criticizing the organization's position on the Gaza conflict.