Holding opera and Anna Netrebko to account for Putin’s war crimes | Letters
Martin Kettle accurately highlights the moral dilemma faced by the Royal Opera House in hiring the Russian soprano Anna Netrebko for the upcoming performances of Tosca (As Putin’s bombs fall on Ukraine, the Royal Opera House had a call to make about Anna Netrebko.It made the wrong one, 28 August).He goes on to place the ball in Netrebko’s court by suggesting she should withdraw from the performances or “say something unambiguous for the British audience in opposition to Putin’s continuing war”.He later acknowledges that Netrebko stated her opposition to the war at its outset and that she was attacked for her stance by the Russian regime.Must this happen again? As Pussy Riot’s Nadya Tolokonnikova pointed out, when speaking in a 2022 Guardian interview of how she was “pretty much ready to die” when she went on hunger strike: “If you fight with a dictator, you have to show them that you are ready to fight to the end.
” Members of Pussy Riot were separated from their children and endured appalling conditions in prison,We cannot expect such bravery from every artist – Netrebko should not have to be an activist as well as a world-class singer,It is really up to the Royal Ballet and Opera to decide how far to go with political alignment,They certainly need to address the discrepancy between their obvious support for Ukraine in the last three years and the recent suppression of a show of support for Palestine during a performance,Kate LoughSouthsea, Hampshire There is an incredible double standard with regard to the banning of Russian artists and sportspeople.
Israel is waging a genocidal war in Gaza (not justified by the horrific atrocity against Israelis that preceded it), and its violent settlers have been systematically driving out the original dwellers of the West Bank for years now.However, not only are Israeli artists not banned, but Israel participates in European events despite not being in Europe, such as European football and the Eurovision song contest.Many other countries have carried out unprovoked attacks on other nations – for example, the US on Iraq in 2003 and Iran this year.Nobody has ever suggested that their artists be banned.Whether or not Anna Netrebko is close to Vladimir Putin, I do not see that ostracising her and other Russian artists is justified, unless artists from other countries engaging in wars of aggression are also banned, and unless all commercial contacts with Russia are also forbidden.
Let us have the same standard for all.Name and address supplied I am surprised that Martin Kettle puts the onus completely on the management of the Royal Opera House.It has to make its way financially.If enough people buy tickets to watch and listen to Anna Netrebko, they will put her on stage.If the public choose not to watch her, her feet will not be seen for dust.
The onus is clearly on opera-goers to boycott her performance, but perhaps they have feet of clay.Richard McLachlanIpswich, Suffolk Would your writer like to give his opinion on the wartime National Gallery concerts of Dame Myra Hess and performances by others such as Eileen Joyce where they played music by Bach, Beethoven, Brahms and other German composers? I used to believe that the arts reached out to solve problems, like Ukraine, where diplomacy clearly is failing.Trevor SingletonWarton, Lancashire Have an opinion on anything you’ve read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
Anisimova gains revenge for Wimbledon by beating Swiatek to make US Open last four
Amanda Anisimova conjured the performance of her career on Wednesday afternoon in New York, banishing the ghosts of her Wimbledon nightmare with a sensational 6-4, 6-3 quarter-final victory against second-seeded Iga Swiatek in 1hr 36min. Less than eight weeks after she had been double-bagelled by the Polish star in the final at the All England Club, the 24-year-old American struck back with fearless ball-striking and nerveless resolve to reach her first US Open semi-final.Swiatek, a six-time major champion and the 2022 US Open winner, looked intent on reprising the script when she broke immediately to extend her personal run to 13 consecutive games in the rivalry. But the eighth-seeded Anisimova struck back on her third break point, finishing with a thumping forehand overhead that drew a roar from the Arthur Ashe crowd and ensured this would bear no resemblance to the rout in July. “Honestly, when I wasn’t able to hold in that first game, I was really, like, OK, here we go,” Anisimova admitted afterwards
Djokovic unsure if he’ll be fit enough to beat Alcaraz in US Open semi-finals
Novak Djokovic has admitted he is unsure of how physically ready he will be for his US Open semi-final against Carlos Alcaraz but is determined to do all he can to give himself the best chance against the Spaniard when they face each other on Friday.Djokovic reached the last four late on Tuesday night with a tremendous 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 win against the fourth seed Taylor Fritz. Although Djokovic found himself under constant pressure in his service games and at times was outplayed by his American opponent, he showed his peerless mental toughness by saving his best level for the most important moments as he eked out a victory in four sets.The win set up another meeting with Alcaraz, the second seed and French Open champion, who eased into the semi-finals with a straight-sets win over Jiri Lehecka.“It’s not going to get easier
US Open tennis 2025: Anisimova shocks Swiatek, Auger-Aliassime beats De Minaur on day 11 – live
Righto, that’s us for today. Of course, we’ll have reports on tonight’s two big matches, but otherwise join us again tomorrow for the women’s semis: Jessica Pegula v Aryna Sabalenka and Amanda Anisimova v Karolina Muchova or Naomi Osaka. This competition is shaping up! But until then, peace out.“Anisimova has really exorcised the demons of that Wimbledon final drubbing only a few months ago,” says Gavriella Epstein-Lightman. “A key reason she’s winning is tactical: Swiatek is trying to outhit her, but Anisimova possesses supreme ballstriking ability so won’t be cowed
Long-awaited County Championship restructure at risk of year’s delay
The long-awaited restructure of the County Championship could be delayed by another 12 months after a crucial meeting of club chairs broke up on Wednesday without resolution.With no consensus emerging following the summit at Lord’s, a planned vote on a proposal to cut the Championship to 13 matches next season has been put on hold, leaving the entire restructure in doubt.The counties agreed to cut the Twenty20 Blast from 14 matches to 12 earlier this season following recommendations of the players union, the Professional Cricketers’ Association, but their call to trim the Championship has proved more difficult to execute.Four proposed new structures from the current 10/8 divisional split had already been rejected before the meeting, when a convoluted compromise that would involve most counties playing 13 Championship games from next season also failed to win sufficient support. In the model discussed on Wednesday, a 12-team County Championship Division One would be split into two pools of six, with the remaining six clubs in Division Two
Auger-Aliassime comes from set down to beat De Minaur and make US Open last four
Félix Auger-Aliassime continued his sublime return to form at the US Open with another demonstration of his growing maturity as he held his nerve in the decisive moments of a messy, nerve-racking four-hour tussle to defeat the eighth seed Alex de Minaur 4-6, 7-6 (7), 7-5, 7-6 (4) and reach the semi-finals in New York.By pulling off one of the most significant victories of his career, Auger‑Aliassime has now reached the US Open semi-finals for a second time in his career, four years after his first semi-final in 2021. “It feels amazing. Four years ago, it feels like more, honestly,” he said. “It was a tough couple of years but it feels even better now to be back in the semi-finals
Clippers deny claims star forward Kawhi Leonard was paid $28m for job that didn’t exist
The Los Angeles Clippers and their owner, Steve Ballmer, have denied allegations the team’s star forward, Kawhi Leonard, was paid $28m for a job that doesn’t exist.Journalist Pablo Torre laid out the allegations in his podcast on Wednesday. Torre, citing legal documents, claims Ballmer employed Leonard for a non-existent role in one of his companies to circumvent the NBA salary cap, which punishes teams for spending too much on player salaries.Torre claims that Ballmer partially funded a now defunct tree-planting company called Aspiration. That company then allegedly entered into a $28m agreement with KL2 Aspire, LLC, a company owned by Leonard
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