Met Opera severs ties with Russia over invasion of Ukraine

Josh Einiger Image
Tuesday, March 1, 2022
Met Opera severs ties with Russia over invasion of Ukraine
The Met Opera announced Monday it's severing ties with all Russian performers or institutions which support Vladimir Putin. Josh Einiger has more.

UPPER WEST SIDE, Manhattan (WABC) -- As Russian forces continue to advance in Kyiv, the world is rallying support for Ukraine, including in New York City.

It was opening night at Lincoln Center on Monday. In a packed house, the Met Opera kicked off its spring season with a performance of Don Carlos which recounts the Spanish inquisition.

"And here we are five centuries later, and we seem to be just as uncivilized, watching helplessly in horror as Ukraine is subjected to tragic terrorism of a war it doesn't deserve," Peter Gelb says.

Gelb runs the Met and on Monday announced he's severing ties with all Russian performers or institutions which support Vladimir Putin, including the famed Bolshoi, set to perform at the Met next year.

RELATED | Defiant Ukrainian president refuses US offer to evacuate: 'I need ammunition, not a ride'

In a video posted to Twitter Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he and the people of Ukraine are defending their country as Russian aggression escalates.

"I think that's the right thing to do. I honestly don't understand why Putin has done what he's done, and wherever we can make a statement we should, against his actions," opera fan Bente Strong said.

It is of course, just the latest in a cascade of cancellations being endured by Russian society, as the international outrage over the war boils over.

Famously neutral Switzerland added itself to the list of countries freezing Russian assets with international sanctions causing the ruble to plummet and a run on banks in Moscow.

Soccer's governing bodies banned Russia from the World Cup and Shell Oil is ending its Russian operations after rival BP divested its stake from a massive Russian oil company.

Russian flights are banned from the air over Europe and Canada, leading a JFK-bound Aeroflot jet to turn around in mid-flight, and head back to Moscow.

If they'd made it to New York, passengers would have seen the skyline lit up with the colors of Ukraine's flag.

ALSO READ | Gas prices expected to continue to rise due to uncertainty with Russia-Ukraine

If you've gotten behind a wheel lately there's no doubt you've felt a ting of pain at the gas pump. CeFaan Kim has more on why gas prices could keep rising.

Before the opera began at Lincoln Center Monday night, the crowd leapt to its feet as performers sang the Ukrainian national anthem.

As leaders in the arts join in a global boycott.

It may not change the outcome in Ukraine one bit, but in New York City, right now, there's just no other choice.

----------

* Get Eyewitness News Delivered

* More Manhattan news

* Send us a news tip

* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts

* Follow us on YouTube

Submit a News Tip