Operatic Divas and Cultural Politics

• In Event: New Perspectives on Russian Theater and Performing Arts II: Liberation and Displacement: Russian Actors, Directors, Musicians, Theatre and Film Critics in Exile I

Abstract

This presentation will address the dramatic transformation of the international classical music landscape after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Western concert halls and opera houses cancelled many international contracts of world famous pro-Kremlin musicians and singers. What does the diva-centered operatic stage look like today? After a brief discussion of several world-renowned divas from the former Soviet empire, I will focus on the new operatic sensation - the mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshina who is from a small village in the Republic of Bashkortostan and is called by critics a “new Netrebko”.
The famous soprano Anna Netrebko was dropped from all Metropolitan Opera performances for her initial failure to denounce the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and her close ties with maestro Valerii Gergiev and President Putin. Since Netrebko had been performing with the Met for 20 years, the question arose of how the opera house would fill the void. However, the 2024-2025 Met season presented a “new Netrebko”, replacing the renowned 52-year-old soprano with the 27-year-old mezzo-soprano Akhmetshina. Like Netrebko, Akhmetshina displays vocal virtuosity, stage charisma and impressive acting skills, yet her divahood is liberated from any association with Putin’s politics and the pro-Kremlin artistic elite. This appears to be part of her celebrity construction, yet it also signifies her displacement from her native country.

Author

• Olga Simonova Partan, College of the Holy Cross