Russian opera singer from Crimea was not allowed on stage in Verona

In Italy, Russian opera singer Ildar Abdrazakov's performances in Verona were canceled. He is associated with Putin and the annexed Crimea, and the campaign against his performances was supported by politicians and activists.

This was reported by Krym. Realii.

In Italy, the performances of Russian opera singer Ildar Abdrazakov, soloist of the Mariinsky Theater and artistic director of the Sevastopol State Opera and Ballet Theater, were canceled. According to the management of the Arena di Verona Foundation, the artist will not take part in the production of Don Giovanni at the Verona Philharmonic Theater from January 18 to 25, 2026.

The organization did not explain the reasons for the cancellation. It is assumed that the decision could have been made after a post on social media by the Vice-President of the European Parliament, Pina Picherno, calling for the prevention of Russian artists from performing on the Italian stage.

The campaign against Abdrazakov's performances in Italy was also supported by the Italian association Liberi Oltre le Illusioni. The foundation's website states that the singer is an active supporter of Vladimir Putin, was his proxy in the 2024 elections, is a member of the Presidential Council for Culture, participates in events organized by the Russian authorities, and since December has been heading the Sevastopol State Opera and Ballet Theater in annexed Crimea.

Before that, the theater was headed by choreographer Serhiy Polunin, a native of Kherson who received Russian citizenship after the annexation of Crimea. In the summer of 2024, he reported surveillance and threats, and expressed his intention to leave Russia if his safety was not ensured. In September, Polunin resigned as rector of the Russian Academy of Choreography in Sevastopol.

Abdrazakov himself or his representatives have not yet commented on the cancellation of the Verona performances. After the outbreak of war in Ukraine, he opened the new season of La Scala in December 2022, performing the role in the opera Boris Godunov. However, in 2023, his performances at La Scala were canceled, as well as the following year at the San Carlo Theater, partly due to the actions of Pina Picherno.

Ildar Abdrazakov is an opera singer from Bashkortostan, People's Artist of Bashkortostan and Tatarstan. In 2023, the Austrian edition of Opern News published an investigation stating that he, among other things, attended the New Year's party of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.

On November 4, the Anti-Corruption Foundation announced the launch of a campaign against the artist's performances, emphasizing his support for the Russian dictator and his role as a proxy in the elections.

Earlier, the EU approved the 17th package of sanctions, for the first time imposing restrictions on the theft of Ukrainian cultural heritage, including the director of the Chersonesos Tavriya Museum, Olena Morozova. The sanctions also affected oil producers and military technology suppliers.

Анна Бальчінос