In Monday’s (8/19) International Herald Tribune, Michael Cooper writes, “The furor over Russia’s new law placing restrictions on the discussion of homosexuality has spread to the world of classical music, with some opera fans calling on the Metropolitan Opera to dedicate its opening-night gala performance of Tchaikovsky’s ‘Eugene Onegin’ to the support of gay people [with an online petition]. The long-planned new production … which will open the Met season on Sept. 23, is to be conducted by Valery Gergiev, the artistic director of the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg … and to star Anna Netrebko, the popular Russian diva.… Both were vocal supporters of the 2012 campaign of President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, who in June signed the law banning ‘propaganda on nontraditional sexual relationships.’ ” Among those signing the petition is Bartlett Sher, who has directed several Met productions. “The Met’s general manager, Peter Gelb, responded to the petition with a statement saying … ‘The Met deplores the suppression of equal rights here or abroad. But since our mission is artistic, it is not appropriate for our performances to be used by us for political purposes, no matter how noble or right the cause.’ ” The article also includes related comments from violinist Gidon Kremer, who will hold an October concert in Berlin focusing on freedom and human rights in Russia.
Posted August 21, 2013
