Metropolitan Opera New York
Benefit concert for Ukraine
03/15/2022 by Antje Passenheim
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A benefit concert for the victims of the Ukraine war was held at the New York “Met” on Monday evening. The largest opera house in the USA has taken a strong stance against Russian President Putin’s campaign in Ukraine and has therefore also turned its back on Anna Netrebko.
Image Credit: Jonathan Tichler / Met Opera
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Let them be soldiers this evening. Soldiers of music, says Peter Gelb, head of the famous Metropolitan Opera, on Monday night at Ukraine’s benefit concert in New York. Music offers comfort to humanity, but it can also become a weapon against oppression.
And that’s what the music should be in this 70-minute concert organized by the “Met” for the victims of the war in Ukraine. According to media reports, the $25 tickets sold out within ten minutes. The benefit concert was broadcast internationally.
A Concert for Ukraine
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The Ukraine flag as a stage set in the Metropolitan Opera
When the choir and orchestra sing the Ukrainian national anthem, the people stand in their 3,800 seats. Many have tears in their eyes. A wave of unity and emotion runs through the auditorium, in which two colors dominate above all: blue and yellow.
UN Ambassador Sergei Kyslytsya at the Metropolitan Opera in New York | Image Credit: Evan Zimmerman / Met Opera
The flag of Ukraine shines as a stage set and it hangs from many a balcony in America’s largest opera house. There are many Ukrainians in the audience, including UN Ambassador Sergei Kyslytsya. The diplomat, who fights tirelessly in the Security Council for support and a path to peace and greets the audience in the opera house with the victory sign from the audience tier, receives thunderous applause for several minutes.
Unloaded: star singer Anna Netrebko
As Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings pierces the packed house, the television images of the desperate people in the Ukraine unwind in many heads in the audience. And almost defiantly, the musicians under star conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin countered the sad tones of Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Strauss with the finale from Beethoven’s 9th symphony.
Well-known soloists sing along – but not Anna Netrebko. The opera house had ended the collaboration with the star soprano. She had refused to withdraw her public support for Russian President Putin. Peter Gelb made it clear:
The Metropolitan Opera musicians stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people – so strong and brave.
Peter Yellow
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Proceeds for aid measures in Ukraine
The blue and yellow national flag of Ukraine hangs at the benefit concert at New York’s Metropolitan Opera. | Image Credit: Evan Zimmerman / Met Opera
At the exit there is emotion and enthusiasm. Many don’t like to speak at all, others are gushing. It was great, says one visitor, “to hear and see all the support.” The proceeds of the benefit concert will go to aid measures in Ukraine. It was also broadcast there that evening. There, as Met boss Gelb emphasizes, where people fight for their transmission waves.
Broadcast: “Allegro “on March 15, 2022 from 6:05 a.m. on BR-KLASSIK
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