Angel Blue
Anna Netrebko
Posted on 07/21/2022 11:22:47 PM PDT by Zhang Fei
African American soprano Angel Blue has said she will not perform in an opera in Italy this month because another production held at the theater earlier this year featured performers in blackface.
The 38-year-old Grammy Award-winner announced she is bowing out of La Traviata at Verona Arena, in Verona, Italy, later this month.
She blasted the theater as 'archaic' for mounting another Giuseppe Verdi opera, Aida, that featured performers in blackface.
They include Anna Netrebko, a white Russian soprano, has been cast in the titular role of Aida in Verdi’s opera - despite the character being an Ethiopian princess.
In promotional material, Netrebko appears with dark makeup over her face and body, and wearing a wig with long black braids.
Angel Blue called the practice 'offensive, humiliating, and outright racist'.
Angel Blue, however, was still listed on Saturday on the arena's website as singing the role of Violetta in La Traviata on July 22 and 30.
The theatre said it was hoping that Blue, who is black, would accept an invitation to meet with Arena officials for 'dialogue' over the issue.
The arena said it had 'no reason nor intent whatsoever to offend and disturb anyone's sensibility'.
For decades, US civil rights organizations have publicly condemned blackface – in which white performers blacken their faces – as dehumanizing black people by introducing and reinforcing racial stereotypes.
This summer, the arena has mounted performances of Aida based on a 2002 staging of the opera classic by Italian director Franco Zeffirelli, who died in 2019. That staging uses blackface.
'Dear Friends, Family, and Opera Lovers,' began the soprano's Instagram post. 'I have come to the unfortunate conclusion that I will not be singing La Traviata at Arena di Verona this summer as planned.'
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
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This is getting so old……but the more they get away with telling people what to do, it will continue.
FIRE HER!
Let her sing in the shower!
What about Othello?……Anthony Hopkins, Lawrence Olivier, etc have played the role…..as well as black actors
Because if she plays the race card she must be right
Boycott her performances. Especially if she plays an historical non-black person. Cast her only in roles where the character is black. That will definitely “help” her career.
Prima Donna comes in all colors,but this “Donna es mobile.”
I don’t think it’s the race of the singer but the stage makeup she objects to. They won’t be making her paint pale for La Traviata.
Anyone upset that Anna Netrebko signs Aida obviously does not understand music. Fire Ms Blue!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1iCS20Rte8
Faccetta nera, bell’abissina
Aspetta e spera che già l’ora si avvicina
Quando staremo vicino a te
Noi te daremo un’altra legge e un altro Re
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OYO9FOyLggE
For the best. She was likely hired in the name of “diversity” anyway. Now they can replace her with another soprano who has as much as or more talent without the baggage of having to walk on eggshells around them fearing an accusation of “racism” if one fails to genuflect before her when passing by.
Bizet inadvertently stole the famous “Habanera” in “Carmen” from Yradier (a Spaniard), from Yradiers’ “El Arreglito”.
Carmen’s Habanera - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8GD63RuQduc
Yradiers Arreglito - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9l0e3M3Ek4c
Ana Netrebko (also a mezzo) is still going strong at 50. But she may be pushing it at this point.
It’s theatre, Snowflake.
But was she “Offended” when Rachel Dolezal posed as a black chick and ran the local NAACP chapter?
More faux outrage, drama and victimHOOD
Nope, not this time. I do not agree with her but she is legit.
She is not singing whole operas anylonger but still touring giving concerts:
This video from 2006 when she still was in her absolute prime:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RvuxmHdW2E
Diversity is a one-way street.
And Angel Blue? Sounds like a stripper name.
To say nothing of Noh. :)
Blue is blue over a white being black.
The Blue Angels should be offended that she appropriated.
Angel Blue
Anna Netrebko
There should be no future performances of La Traviata unless a genuine Ethiopian plays Aida, preferably a Princess.
Yeah that’s where we are. As for the black babe, let her quit. She’s only hurting herself.
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