Russian opera singer Eldor Abdurazzoqov was scheduled to perform in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's "Don Giovanni" at the Philharmonic Theatre in Verona, Italy. However, on November 6, the theatre administration issued an official statement announcing that the singer would not participate in any performances scheduled for January 2026.
According to the announcement on the theatre's official website, Abdurazzoqov will not take part in the opera staged from January 18–25. However, the exact reasons for this decision were not disclosed. In this performance, the Russian artist was supposed to play the lead role — Don Giovanni. So far, no information has been given about who will replace him.
On the other hand, European political circles are interpreting this event as having a political dimension. European Parliament Vice-President Pina Picierno called the decision "another victory over Putin and Kremlin propaganda." On her X (Twitter) page, she wrote, "I thank all those who supported this decision — FBK, Yulia Navalnaya and others."
Among those who opposed Abdurazzoqov’s participation was the group Liberi Oltre le Illusioni. They emphasized that the singer participated in Russia's 2024 presidential election as Vladimir Putin’s trusted representative, and is also a member of the Presidential Council for Culture and Art.
At the same time, the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) also began a campaign against his performances on European stages. According to the organization, Abdurazzoqov owns a "luxurious villa" in Europe and has openly supported Kremlin policies. The FBK called on European countries “not to cooperate with people who openly support the Kremlin’s war in public.”
This is not the first time a performance by the Russian singer has been cancelled abroad. In 2023, he was excluded from collaborations with the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Carnegie Hall, La Scala in Milan, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the Munich Opera Festival. In 2024, the San Carlo Theatre in Naples also cancelled its project with him planned for 2025.
A similar situation occurred again in July — a concert with Italian conductor Valery Gergiev was cancelled after widespread public pressure. If the concert had taken place, it would have been Gergiev's first performance since "The Queen of Spades" in 2022.
Experts note that cultural institutions in Europe are increasingly toughening their political stance toward individuals linked to Russia. Especially since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, such "cultural isolation" has intensified its impact in the art world as well.
Thus, Eldor Abdurazzoqov's new opera project was also cancelled under the influence of political disputes — this situation demonstrates that the line between politics and art is becoming increasingly blurred.
Read “Zamin” on Telegram!
