Anna Netrebko, the renowned Russian soprano, was shunned by many of the world’s leading opera companies after Russia invaded Ukraine three years ago because of her past support of President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia.
Since then, though, a number of Europe’s most prestigious companies have welcomed her back. And next season she will return to two more major opera houses there for the first time since the war began: Zurich Opera and the Royal Opera in London.
With those engagements, Ms. Netrebko will have returned to many of the world’s leading stages, with one notable exception: the Metropolitan Opera in New York, where she reigned as a prima donna for two decades.
Peter Gelb, the Met’s general manager, severed the company’s ties with Ms. Netrebko three years ago, citing her “close association with Putin.” He has said that he believes Ms. Netrebko, a citizen of Russia and Austria who lives in Vienna, has made a “disingenuous effort to distance herself from the Russian war effort.”
Ms. Netrebko sued the Met, accusing the company of discrimination, defamation and breach of contract. A federal judge narrowed the suit last year to gender discrimination claims; her case is still pending.
Ms. Netrebko has returned to Teatro alla Scala in Milan, the Berlin State Opera, the Vienna State Opera and the Paris Opera, among others. And in recent days London and Zurich both announced that they, too, would welcome her back.
Zurich Opera said on Thursday that Ms. Netrebko would perform in Verdi’s “La Forza del Destino” in November. In announcing the 2025-26 season, the company’s incoming artistic leader, Matthias Schulz, said that Ms. Netrebko “deserves to be given this chance,” according to news media reports.
She withdrew from her engagements in Zurich in 2022. The company’s outgoing director, Andreas Homoki, said at the time that “citizens of repressive regimes” should not be judged by the same standards as people living in Western European democracies. But he added that the opera house’s “decisive condemnation” of Mr. Putin and his actions was “not compatible with Anna Netrebko’s public position.”
The Royal Opera in London said earlier this month that Ms. Netrebko would return to its stage for the first time in six years to open its season in a new production of Puccini’s “Tosca.” She will also appear there in a revival of Puccini’s “Turandot” in December and perform a recital next year.
The Royal Opera said in a statement that “Russian nationality does not equate to alignment of association with the current Kremlin regime.”
“Anna has made clear statements condemning Putin’s war in Ukraine and has not returned to Russia since 2022,” the statement said.
A representative for Ms. Netrebko declined to comment.
After the invasion Ms. Netrebko said in a statement that she condemns the war in Ukraine, but she has refrained from explicitly criticizing Mr. Putin, and she has not spoken in depth about her previous record of support for him.
As she has appeared in Europe at top concert halls and opera houses, she has often been greeted by protests but has also won ovations and strong reviews.
Ms. Netrebko has been trying for an American comeback; she sang at a gala for Palm Beach Opera in Florida in February. But she has not yet announced high-profile engagements in the United States.
