The conductor of the Odesa Opera appeared on the same stage with the husband of the Putinist Netrebko – how it is commented in the theater

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On April 8, “Bohème” by Giacomo Puccini was played at the Baku National Opera. The chief conductor of the Odesa Opera, a citizen of Belarus, Vyacheslav Chernukho-Volich, who has long-standing cooperation with Azerbaijan and has performed there several times at the invitation of the local opera directorate, was invited to conduct. After the event, photos and videos were made public, in which the Odessa conductor poses next to the new head of the Baku Opera – tenor Yusif Eyvazov and the husband of opera singer Anna Netrebko, who is under sanctions in Ukraine. On April 7, Yusif Eyvazov became the head of the Baku Opera, and the performance of “Bohemia” actually became a “congratulation” to the new head in office. Joint photos of the chief conductor of the Odessa Opera and Yusif Eyvazov caused outrage in the Ukrainian cultural community. The chief conductor of the Odesa Opera and the management of the theater stated in a comment to UP.Zhyttya that there was a misunderstanding because Vyacheslav Chernukho-Volich did not know in advance that Yusif Eyvazov would lead the Azerbaijan Academic Opera and Ballet Theater. Artist Affad Abbasova’s post after the performance of “Bohemia” in Baku. Photo: Afak Abbasova’s Facebook First, UP.Zhyttia contacted the director of the Odessa National Opera, Nadia Babich, who said that she did not know about the ambiguous situation in advance, but had read about the appointment of Yusif Eyvazov in the news. “Vyacheslav Chernukho-Volich did not go at the invitation of Eyvazov, who was appointed only a day before the performance. As far as I know, our conductor was invited by the previous manager. He was already announced in the performance. So these are not interconnected facts,” says Nadiya Babich Chief conductor of the Odesa Opera Vyacheslav Chernukho-Volich (on the right in the photo) after “Bohemia” in Baku. Photo: Facebook Afak Abbasova The director of the Opera also stated that the theater will not support cooperation with the Baku Opera now that Yusif Eyvazov has become its director. In addition, Babich added that she does not support the participation of conductor Vyacheslav Chernukho-Volich in the event. “He will return – we will communicate. There should not be such events related to our theater. The position of the theater is as follows: I believe that we should break these ties with the opera in Baku after the appointment of Yusif Aivazov. In general, categorically not,” she said Nadia Babich We spoke with Vyacheslav Chernukho-Volich in Telegram, as he is still abroad. The conductor spoke Belarusian. He explained his position in such a way that he could no longer refuse the previous agreement with the former management of the theater and did not have such information that the new head of the Baku Opera, Yusif Eyvazov, supports the war in Ukraine. “If we are talking about the wife of Yusif Eyvazov, then in our country the son is not responsible for the father and the husband is not responsible for the wife. There is a presumption. I have not seen the public statements of the new head of the Baku Opera about his support for the war in Ukraine. Instead, at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, he wrote on social networks, which condemns any war and has many friends in Ukraine,” said Vyacheslav Chernukho-Volich. The chief conductor of the Odesa Opera Vyacheslav Chernukho-Volich (pictured – third from the left) and the new director of the Baku Opera Yusif Eyvazov (fourth from the left) after “Boheme” in Baku. Photo: Afak Abbasova’s Facebook Regarding cooperation with the Baku Opera, the conductor stated that he deliberately refused to participate in events where music by Russian composers was played. “I have been cooperating with the Baku theater for more than 10 years. It was very important to cooperate when the war started and when the former director of the theater offered to support Ukraine. A year ago, our baritone Bohdan Panchenko performed – I had “Carmen” and “Boheme”. The same director invited me to “Bohemia”, which was played on April 8. I told him then that I would not play the Russian repertoire and cooperate with Russian artists – he took everything into account. From the first day of the war, I remained in Ukraine and worked to make Ukraine known, for our victory “, Vyacheslav Chernukho-Volich said. The chief conductor of the Odesa Opera Vyacheslav Chernukho-Volich and the new head of the Baku Opera Yusif Eyvazov next to the opera actress Afak Abbasova after “Bohemia” in Baku. Photo: Facebook Afak Abbasova The conductor said that he learned about the appointment of a new leader already in Baku. “When I arrived in Baku, I was told that the director had left the theater yesterday, and a new director appeared on the day the performance was scheduled. I am not personally familiar with Mr. Eyvazov, I saw him when he went on stage. I have no relationship with him I don’t have it,” said the chief conductor of the Odessa Opera. In addition, Vyacheslav Chernukha-Volich emphasized that since the beginning of the full-scale war, he has held a number of concerts around the world to draw attention to the war in Ukraine. And he asked to add that he was forced to leave Belarus in 2020 and was dismissed from the post of chief conductor of the Belarusian Opera due to open opposition to the Lukashenko regime. The chief director of the Odesa Opera, Oksana Taranenko, in a comment to UP.Zhyttia, emphasized that she had not communicated with the chief conductor for a long time, but joint photos with Yusif Eyvazov are reputational risks for the Odesa Opera. “It is clear that there was an agreement with the old director – even before Eyvazov took office. But joint photos and videos impersonate the Opera and its management. When Vyacheslav Chernukho-Volich honestly won the competition – everything was normal then, honestly ” , – said Oksana Taranenko. Read also: “Denationalization of theaters and operas is homework for their managers”: Deputy Minister of Culture Galina Grigorenko The head of the trade union of the Odesa National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater Vitaly Sivoglaz also spoke about the conductor’s performance in Baku. Regarding the photographs of the Chief Conductor at the Baku Opera, Vitaly Sivoglaz believes that this is unacceptable, given the status of the conductor and the theater. “I was also surprised when I saw these photos. Despite the fact that Eyvazov was recently appointed director – but still, if I found out – I would cancel this performance. This is unacceptable at the moment, when our country is at war with Russia. Moreover, this is the main conductor of the National Theater. Now there should be no collaboration under any circumstances, but besides, we are the first theaters in the country, of which there are not many. And we must be guided by the laws, be on the lookout for these events, set an example – do not allow such situations,” Sivoglaz said. He also reminded that the previous chief conductor Oleksandr Samoile, who was a citizen of Moldova, left the theater precisely because he chose Moscow instead of Ukraine. Screenshots from the social networks of the new head of the Baku Opera, Yusif Eyvazov. Photo: Yusif Eyvazov’s Instagram The Ukrainian Institute actively advocates the boycott of Russian artists in European cultural institutions. They are familiar with the situation with the appointment of Yusif Eyvazov, they have seen his photos with the conductor of the Odessa Opera. Lyubov Morozova, the manager of the music programs of the Institute, in a comment to UP.Zhyttya, says that photos and videos with a person who has the reputation of being an agent of the Kremlin are unacceptable during a full-scale war. “We are constantly working with requests from activists who ask to help block the concerts of Anna Netrebko and her husband all over the world. Here we see, I don’t want to say a shameful situation, but a situation of incoherence within the community, which is absolutely not motivated by anything. The Ukrainian Institute does not tolerate any what are the performances of Ukrainians with Russians – “bad” or “good” or “very good” – on the same stage. We put a lot of effort into stopping the intentions of our partners, colleagues and organizers at concert venues around the world – in order not to allow such projects of Russian-Ukrainian friendship in any form,” says Lyubov Morozova. Read also: “Yaroslav the Wise” again at the National Opera. Why was a Soviet work glorifying totalitarianism returned there? She also emphasized that since 2014, Anna Netrebko has been actively supporting the aggressive position of Russia and Putin personally, speaking in the territories occupied by Russia. “Now in a situation where it has begun to be boycotted all over the world and the Ukrainian community abroad is sufficiently united – Netrebko tried to “repaint”. We even know that the Netrebko family, in the days when there was an active bombing of the energy infrastructure by the Russians, handed over a generator to help the Ukrainians. They decided , that this generator in the future will introduce them in the eyes of their Western partners to the circle of those who are against the war. But you can’t sit on 2 chairs, we all understand what kind of people these are. There is no doubt that these are not just Russians – good or bad – and these are agents of the Kremlin,” Lyubov Morozova emphasized. As for Yusif Eyvazov – Lyubov Morozova reminded that he speaks openly in Russia even after the alleged change of views of his wife Anna Netrebko. “If since February 24, Netrebko pretended that she was against the system, then on the contrary, he continued to perform in Russia. He is a racist – there was a scandal at the Dresden Opera when Eyvazov refused to perform with the Armenian artist, the wife of Oleksiy Palchikov,” emphasized Lyubov Morozova. Read also: War and peace and opera. Can Ukraine de-Russify the European scenes and in what way? The manager of music programs of the UI also emphasized that during the war, artists should first learn about the conditions of performances, and in no case agree to participate in events with dubious organization. “Any performances of our artists should begin with the question: are there Russians on this stage, are there Russians in the organizers – and accordingly, if they are there – then refuse to perform. That is what other musicians do all the time. This is a security measure, and we have to take such measures every time we resort to partner events at venues around the world. Regarding performances in Baku – my answer here is categorical – our conductor could not but know who Netrebko and her husband are. And if Eyvazov’s appointment was unexpected, then photos and videos could have been refused. Such things should be brought up for general discussion and as a nation we should be stricter in such matters, not allow ourselves such collaboration with agents of the Kremlin,” Lyubov Morozova stressed. Read UP. Culture in Telegram

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