A federal judge has narrowed Anna Netrebko’s lawsuit against the Metropolitan Opera to focus solely on gender discrimination, dismissing her other claims of defamation, breach of contract, and national origin discrimination. U.S. District Judge Analisa Nadine Torres issued the 23-page ruling in Manhattan, addressing the lawsuit Netrebko filed on August 4, 2023.
The case began after the Met dropped the Russian soprano from future engagements following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, demanding she publicly denounce President Vladimir Putin. Netrebko’s manager, Miguel Esteban, emphasized that while some claims were dismissed, the remaining gender discrimination claim is significant, and Netrebko remains determined to vindicate her rights and restore her reputation.
The Met, on the other hand, expressed satisfaction with the dismissal of three out of four claims, while stating confidence that the remaining claim would also fail if brought to trial. The American Guild of Musical Artists had previously won an arbitration ruling in Netrebko’s favor, awarding her over $209,000 in compensation for the cancellation of three productions.
Judge Torres dismissed the defamation claim, stating Netrebko failed to prove that her statements distancing herself from Putin influenced the Met’s belief in her political stance. The judge also found insufficient evidence to support claims of national origin discrimination. However, Torres allowed Netrebko to continue her gender discrimination claims under New York State and City Human Rights Laws, noting that male counterparts with alleged connections to Putin had been treated more favorably by the Met. The case has not yet been scheduled for trial.
