Jakub Hrusa makes a bold move by bringing Anna Netrebko back to Covent Garden
- Soprano Anna Netrebko returns to London’s Royal Opera to open the 2025-26 season after a six-year absence.
- Her performances will feature a new production of Puccini's Tosca, kicking off Jakub Hrusa's role as music director.
- This return brings potential controversy given her past connections and challenges following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
In a significant cultural event, Soprano Anna Netrebko is set to return to London's Royal Opera following a six-year hiatus. This highly anticipated comeback is scheduled for the 2025-26 season, where she will open the season in a fresh production of Giacomo Puccini's "Tosca," marking the start of Jakub Hrusa's tenure as music director. This production begins on September 11, 2025, and features performances until September 21, 2025. Netrebko's involvement, particularly under the direction of Oliver Mears, creates excitement due to her prior absence from the venue, having last performed in Verdi's "La Forza del Destino" in April 2019. The announcement comes on the heels of a challenging period for Netrebko, who faced backlash and professional setbacks after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Notably, she was dropped from future engagements at New York's Metropolitan Opera, where management requested her to denounce Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly, which she declined. Despite these circumstances, she continues to perform at various renowned opera houses and is lauded for her talent. Alongside Netrebko in this production will be tenor Freddie De Tommaso and baritone Gerald Finley. Hrusa's upcoming role as music director is pivotal, given he succeeds Antonio Pappano, a well-respected figure in the opera world. The 2025-26 season promises to not only be an artistic milestone but also a moment of heightened dramatic tension and potential for controversy in the context of Netrebko's previous associations and public perception. In addition to the production of "Tosca," Hrusa’s inaugural season will feature a variety of other prestigious operatic works. He will also lead the company’s premiere of Leoš Janáček's "The Makropulos Case" and a revival of Benjamin Britten's "Peter Grimes." The Royal Opera is also planning to showcase new productions of various operas, including Handel's "Ariodante" and Wagner's "Siegfried," further enriching the season's offerings. Overall, this season marks a pivotal moment for the Royal Opera as it engages with contemporary issues while paying homage to traditional operatic forms.