Russian opera singer Eldor Abdurazzakov was scheduled to perform in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” at the Philharmonic Theater in Verona, Italy. However, on November 6, the theater administration issued an official statement announcing that the singer would not participate in any of the performances scheduled for January 2026.
According to the announcement on the theater’s official website, Abdurazzakov will not participate in the opera to be shown from January 18–25. The exact reasons for this decision were not disclosed. In this production, the Russian artist was supposed to play the lead role—Don Giovanni. So far, it has not been announced who will replace him.
On the other hand, European political circles are discussing the event in a political context. European Parliament Vice President Pina Picierno described the decision as “another victory over Putin and Kreml propaganda.” On her X (Twitter) page, she wrote, “Thanks to everyone who supported this decision—FBK, Yulia Navalnaya, and others.”
Among those opposing Abdurazzakov’s performance was the Liberi Oltre le Illusioni organization. They emphasized that the singer acted as an authorized representative for Vladimir Putin in the 2024 Russian presidential elections and is also a member of the Presidential Council for Culture and Art.
Meanwhile, the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) also started a campaign against his performances on European stages. According to the organization, Abdurazzakov owns a “luxurious villa” in Europe and openly supports Kremlin policies. FBK called on European countries “not to cooperate with people who publicly support the Kremlin’s war.”
This is not the first time the Russian singer’s performance abroad has been canceled. In 2023, he was excluded from cooperation 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 Theater in Naples also canceled a project with him scheduled for 2025.
A similar case occurred in July—after considerable public pressure, a concert featuring Russian conductor Valery Gergiev was canceled. Had it gone ahead, it would have been Gergiev’s first performance since “The Queen of Spades” in 2022.
Experts note that Europe’s cultural institutions are steadily taking a stricter political stance towards individuals linked to Russia. Especially after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, such “cultural isolation” has become increasingly influential within the arts community.
Thus, Eldor Abdurazzakov’s new opera project was also canceled due to the influence of political debates—illustrating how the line between politics and art is growing ever more blurred.
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