Russian soprano Anna Netrebko made headlines at the La Scala opera house in Milan for her performance in Giacomo Puccini’s “Tosca”. However, her legal battle with the Metropolitan Opera in New York has also been grabbing attention.
In a recent court decision, a federal judge narrowed Netrebko’s lawsuit to gender discrimination claims, dismissing allegations of defamation, breach of contract, and discrimination based on national origin. The lawsuit, filed in August 2021, stemmed from the Met dropping Netrebko from future engagements after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The Met’s General Manager demanded that she denounce Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Despite the dismissal of some claims, Netrebko’s manager, Miguel Esteban, expressed their commitment to pursuing the case and vindicating Netrebko’s rights. The case has not yet been scheduled for trial, but the American Guild of Musical Artists filed a grievance on Netrebko’s behalf.
In the ruling, Judge Analisa Nadine Torres allowed Netrebko to proceed with gender discrimination claims under New York State and City Human Rights Laws. She argued that male counterparts with alleged connections to Putin were treated more favorably by the Met, citing specific examples like bass-baritone Evgeny Nikitin and baritones Igor Golovatenko and Alexey Markov, who continued to perform at the Met.
While the Met expressed satisfaction with the dismissal of certain claims, Netrebko’s team is determined to fight for her rights and reputation. The court decision leaves an important case before it, focusing on the gender discrimination allegations within the renowned opera company.
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