Star soprano Anna Netrebko sues Met Opera

Manhattan, Aug. 6: Soprano Anna Netrebko, once among the Metropolitan Opera's biggest box office draws, sued the company and general manager Peter Gelb on Friday, alleging defamation, breach of contract and other violations related to the institution's decision to drop her following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, asks for at least $360,000 in damages for lost performance and rehearsal fees. Netrebko claims the Met caused "severe mental anguish and emotional distress" that included "depression, humiliation, embarrassment, stress and anxiety, and emotional pain and suffering."

The Met dropped the Russian soprano from future engagements shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Gelb had demanded she repudiates Russia President Vladimir Putin.

"Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Met and Peter Gelb have used Anna Netrebko as a scapegoat in their campaign to distance themselves from Russia and to support Ukraine," the management of the 51-year-old soprano said in a statement. The Met said in a statement: "Ms. Netrebko's lawsuit has no merit."

The lawsuit alleges a breach of additional agreements for 40 performances of Puccini's "Tosca" and Tchaikovsky's "Pique Dame (The Queen of Spades")" during the 2024-25 season and Puccini's "Manon Lescaut" and Verdi's "Macbeth" in 2025-26. Going beyond the scope of the arbitration, the suit claims Netrebko was discriminated against because of national origin. (AP)