"Stay just a singer!"

The main wish of the Austrian fellow citizens Anna Netrebko: not to be fascinated by Vladimir Putin and do his own thing

The act of the opera singer Anna Netrebko, who wrote out the charity check to the Donetsk Opera Theater and photographed along with one of the leaders of the East Ukrainian separatists with the flag of unrecognized Novorossiya in their hands, caused a great resonance in Europe. In Austria, whose citizenship Anna at her request was provided in 2006 with great pomp, her duet and Oleg Tsarev are perceived by many as a tasteless political farce.

Let me remind you that a few days ago in St. Petersburg the world -famous Russian opera singer Anna Netrebko transferred a certificate for a million rubles, which she sacrificed to the Donetsk National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater named after A.B. Solovyanenko. The certificate from the hands of the singer received, against the backdrop of the flag of the so -called Novorossia, "Chairman of the Parliament" of this self -proclaimed education Oleg Tsarev.

The representative of the Austrian Foreign Ministry said in an interview with the Austrian public television and radio company ORF: "In any case, this is a political statement. Giving yourself to take a picture with the East Ukrainian separatist and its flag is completely problematic. It is clear that such photos will be used immediately for propaganda purposes." In the Austrian press, the requirements for the return of the Austrian passport published on social networks are repeated. Kronen Zeitung and Der Standart newspapers quote indignant authors who wrote on Facebook on Anna Netrebko’s page: “Shame on you, Anna!”, “Then go to the military operation!” And these are the most calm comments. In the comments there is indignation and indignation, as well as (primarily from the side of Ukrainian admirers of Netrebko talent), a deep disappointment of the singer’s act. There are also calls to the boycott of concerts and performances with the participation of Netrebko. Most still converge on a moderate recommendation: "Stay better just a singer!" The Austrian newspaper W Irtschaftsblatt also recalls that Austria was granted to Anna, despite her long -known commitment to Vladimir Putin. Putin's phrase is quoted: "He does not have an alternative!"

The Austrian Airlines, whose advertising person was Netrebko for several months, said that the advertising contract with the opera diva had expired in November and it was not planned to extend it. Most likely, this is not connected with the action of Anna Netrebko, but the advertising video with her participation was immediately after reporting on the background of the New Russia's flag from the Internet, and in YouTube it was renamed private video.

According to the modern rules of creating and maintaining the popularity of stars, scandals are recognized as a necessary element. Will the current scandal of further popularity of non -Reibco will contribute? The opera critic Uve Frederick answers this question:

This is no longer enough today - just to declare that the political side of me, they say, is not at all interested. This was done by many cultural figures during the Third Reich

- So far, Anna caused a misunderstanding, first of all, and I doubt that this story will contribute to its popularity. Subsequently, this political performance in St. Petersburg will be a spot on its reputation, since their agents and impresario are advised to famous artists, as they say here, "fall out of the window." Anna will recall that, in addition to Russian, she also has Austrian citizenship and that for the Austrians her act is shocking. Of course, the scenery and costumes died in the Donetsk theater, and, of course, it is good that Anna Netrebko helps colleagues, helps art. But it was possible to do this, so to speak, in silence, if a person really does not want any political message. This is no longer enough today - just to declare that the political side of me, they say, is not at all interested. This was done by many cultural figures during the Third Reich. They said: "I sang my Wagner, my Verdi, I played my Beethoven, and everything that happened around me, I really did not see, and did not perceive." To make such statements in our time is not good, it no longer goes away.

Certificate for a million rubles

Anna Netrebko is a good singer, from which it was precisely the Western opera world that made the so -called diva, since her type corresponds to the ideas of Western men about exotic female beauty. The title of diva provides record fees, as they write in the press, at the level of 50 thousand euros per performance. I saw Netrebko in many performances, and I got the impression that it is actually internally cold, and the myth of the power of its stage influence is a myth bloated by journalists. Therefore, she is not very believed in her stage love in opera productions.

The fact that the act of a non -removal can damage her, apparently, managed to quickly explain the concert agents who are guarding her. Perhaps that is why, in response to an avalanche of accusations and misunderstanding , Netrebko wrote on her page on Facebook: "Tsarev was presented to me as the only person who could ensure the safe delivery of funds to the theater in Donetsk. The presence of the flag was not planned, and I was not ready."

Among the music theater, it is traditionally customary to make noise in the heads of singers who work like resonators. Anna, when transferring her check, really spoke a lot of nonsense. Oleg Tsarev told the Russian News Service that the plan of the event at which he handed the opera singer the flag of a self -proclaimed country was coordinated within two weeks: "We agreed that we are exchanged flags: I will be awarded the flag of Roerich, I will hand over the flag of New Russia, and we will receive money."

In addition to all, observers are surprised by Anna Netrebko’s ignorance in a state of affairs in the theater, which she wanted to help, as well as what exactly her money will go to. Anna spoke at the presentation of her charity act : “I have comrades, young musicians in Donetsk. They said that the theater is partially destroyed, it is cold in the theater, but they still go on stage. I decided to help, because art always supports people in any situation. And help is especially necessary where culture is destroyed. I only support art and I think that the war should stop as soon as possible.”

On the site of the theater and on the website of the "Donetsk People's Republic" you can read, and in the video reports from Donetsk to see that the theater building itself is in perfect order, and a warehouse with decorations, located from the theater itself at a significant distance, is damaged. What will the money go for? In this regard, many Western journalists simply fantasize. They say, they say, to pay the salary to actors and restore burnt decorations. But will the money reach the theater in general?