Netrebko's Lawsuit focused on Gender Discrimination

In a significant legal development, U.S. District Judge Analisa Nadine Torres has narrowed Anna Netrebko's lawsuit against the Metropolitan Opera, allowing only gender discrimination claims to proceed. The judge dismissed allegations of defamation, breach of contract, and discrimination based on national origin in a 23-page ruling issued on Thursday. Netrebko, a prominent Russian soprano, was dropped from future engagements by the Met shortly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, following demands from Met General Manager Peter Gelb for her to disavow President Vladimir Putin. Netrebko's manager, Miguel Esteban, expressed confidence in the remaining claims, stating that the facts presented indicate the Met wronged the soprano. He emphasized her commitment to vindicating her rights and restoring her reputation. The case has yet to be scheduled for trial, with the Met expressing satisfaction over the dismissal of three claims, asserting that the remaining gender discrimination claim lacks merit. The American Guild of Musical Artists previously filed a grievance on Netrebko's behalf, leading to an arbitrator's ruling in February 2023 that the Met violated its collective bargaining agreement by canceling her contracts for three productions. The arbitrator awarded compensation of over $209,000. However, Judge Torres ruled against Netrebko regarding additional performance agreements, stating they were never finalized. She also dismissed the defamation claim, noting that Netrebko's statements did not alter the Met's perception of her support for Putin. On the gender discrimination front, Torres allowed Netrebko to pursue claims under New York State and City Human Rights Laws, highlighting that male counterparts with ties to the Russian government were treated more favorably by the Met.