AEA AGMA SM said: "And sadly her very cavalier attitude is far from the first problematic thing she's done. For instance, she's pushed back, and pushed back HARD, in her defense of donning blackface to sing the title role inAida. She's had to walk back and "clarify" statements dismissing sexual abuse and assault within the classical music world. And of course her troubling pro-Putin history."
In her defense, her pro-Putin history may be forgiven because she has family in Russia. She may feel she has to publicly support him to protect them. Of course, she may just like him, I don't know.
As far as "black face" in Aida, well she looks like someone who just got back from a spray tan. She looks more orange than anything. I read an interview a few months ago with the African American tenor Russell Thomas who feels that white opera singers darkening their features for Aida or Othello is very different from black face minstrelsy ala Al Jolson or something. At any rate, the last time Aida and Othello were done at the Met no dark make-up was used, and this seems like a good idea to me. No need to add pointless controversy, even if it is tradition.
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