The wife of the Ukrainian president, Olena Zelenska, has expressed outrage at the Royal Opera House's decision to grant permission for Russian opera singer Anna Netrebko to perform, the British newspaper The Telegraph reported.
„The First Lady of Ukraine said she was „unpleasantly surprised“ by the Royal Opera House's decision to support Netrebko, which effectively ends an unofficial cultural boycott of Russian artists during the three-year conflict,“ the article says.
The publication recalls that Netrebko, considered by some to be the greatest soprano in the world, performs the title role in „Tosca“ and will return to Covent Garden this year to perform in “Turandot“.
“In response to Zelenska's comments, the Royal Ballet and Opera have defended their decision to allow the Russian singer to return to Covent Garden“, the article highlights.
On September 8, the Daily Mail reported that Ukraine's ambassador to the UK, Valery Zaluzhny, had called allowing Russian opera singer Anna Netrebko to perform in London “a betrayal”.
He called the concert at the Royal Opera a “test“ for Kiev's closest ally, Britain.