Royal Opera House takes huge swipe at Putin as Ukrainian anthem played ahead of Swan Lake written in Russian
Swan Lake is one of the most popular ballets of all time, composed by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1875-76
The Royal Opera House has taken a hit at Vladimir Putin’s invasion as the Ukrainian national anthem is played before every performance, including Swan Lake written in Russian.
Last night, before the start of the Royal Ballet’s performance of Swan Lake, the orchestra played the anthem in the auditorium, in a show of solidarity with Ukraine.
The audience rose as the solemn melody was played around the hall.
Since February 28, the Opera has been lighting up its building in the colors of the Ukrainian flag and playing the country’s national anthem before each performance.
A statement on the theatre’s website by Managing Director Alex Beard read: “All of us here at the Royal Opera House are shocked and appalled by the ongoing humanitarian crisis unfolding in Ukraine.
“As a sign of respect for all those affected by this terrible conflict, we will light our building in the colors of the Ukrainian flag every evening from February 28 and, in a moment of reflection, will play the national anthem of Ukraine before every performance.”
Given the Ballet’s Russian heritage, it seems the Royal Opera House has taken a massive swipe at Vladimir Putin.
Swan Lake is one of the most popular ballets of all time, composed by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1875-76.
Taken from Russian and German folk tales, the story is about Princess Odette who is transformed into a swan by the curse of an evil wizard.
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The ballet was premiered by the Bolshoi Ballet, an internationally renowned classical ballet company at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow in 1877.
The Opera’s decision follows a series of Western sanctions and cultural movements condemning Russia.
On Saturday, pennants and banners in the blue and yellow halves of the Ukrainian flag were shown at Premier League games.
At Wimbledon’s Cherry Red Records Stadium, Chelsea and Manchester City laid two blue and yellow crowns on the pitch ahead of the start of the Women’s Continental Cup final.
The United States and its international partners have sanctioned Russia’s largest banks, its central bank and its finance ministry, and decided to block certain financial institutions from the Swift messaging system for international payments.
Boris Johnson said there was more to be done to sanction Russia and those around Putin.
The Prime Minister told reporters yesterday: ‘Now that he is getting into this really rampant attack on towns, now that he is attacking civilians the way he is doing, I think we have to recognize that we have to do more for the penalties.
“There is more we can do and more I think we should do. So on Swift, the world can do more.
“In banking, the world can do more.
“I think there is more to be done to punish individuals. That is why we are introducing measures today under the Economic Crimes Bill and also targeting individuals.