The Soprano and the War

Tonight, the Philharmonie Luxembourg hosts Anna Netrebko before a sold-out audience. Outside, the controversy will be just as loud as the music inside.

Netrebko is one of the most celebrated sopranos of her generation. She is also Russian, and she once expressed support for Vladimir Putin. When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Western opera houses canceled her contracts. She withdrew from the stage for months, then released a statement saying she opposed the war but was not a member of any political party. She gradually resumed performing across Europe.[1]

The cancellations stopped, but the protests never did. And now they have arrived in Luxembourg.

Ukraine's honorary consul in Luxembourg put it plainly: anyone who does not clearly distance themselves from Putin is, ultimately, aligned with Putin. He said he had been contacted by the Ukrainian ambassador and shared the concerns raised. Appearances by Russian artists who do not clearly distance themselves from the war are seen by the Ukrainian community worldwide as a provocation and, to some extent, as support for Russia's war against Ukraine.[2]

The Philharmonie, for its part, declined to give an interview. In a written statement, it said it believes that culture and music should remain a space for dialogue. It understood that Netrebko's appearance could raise concerns, but said its mission was to ensure the Philharmonie remains a place that brings people together, including in times of crisis and conflict.[3]

The honorary consul was not convinced. He drew a comparison to the aftermath of the Second World War: no one simply said peace had to be made with the Germans without naming responsibilities. You have to clearly identify who is responsible and who is being harmed, he argued, rather than treating the issue like a playground dispute where everyone is simply told to get along again.

The Ministry of Culture, asked for comment, said the minister does not interfere in programming decisions but remains in contact with cultural institutions. The Philharmonie had confirmed that its programming is based on artistic and professional criteria, and that all invited artists must respect the legal framework and commit to fundamental values, including human dignity and the rejection of racism, discrimination, hatred, and incitement to violence.[4]

This is not the first time the Philharmonie's programming has drawn criticism. In November 2025, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra performed there, which critics saw as an attempt to whitewash the actions of the Israeli government. The pattern is clear: the Philharmonie's commitment to "dialogue" keeps landing it in the same debate, over and over, about whether art can truly be separated from politics.[5]

And that is the question, isn't it? Can you separate the voice from the person, the aria from the regime, the concert from the war? The Philharmonie says yes. The honorary consul says no. The audience tonight will make its own choice. Some will attend because they believe art transcends politics. Others will protest outside because they believe silence is complicity. Both sides are right about something, and both sides are wrong about something else.

What is certain is that the war goes on. And while the soprano sings, Ukrainians will still be dying. That fact hangs over every note, whether anyone wants it to or not.