Exit stage far-right for the opera singer with swastika
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A Russian opera singer has been forced to pull out of a debut appearance at this year's Bayreuth Festival just days before it is due to begin in a row over Nazi tattoos.
Yevgeny Nikitin was to play the star role in The Flying Dutchman at the month-lowng music festival, but resigned after the festival's management confronted him with media reports showing the tattoos on his chest.
The issue of Nazism is a sensitive one for the festival, which is dedicated to the works of Richard Wagner – Adolf Hitler's favourite composer and a notorious anti-Semite. Hitler attended the festival on a number of occasions and ensured that it was funded during his dictatorship.
"I was not aware of the extent of the irritation and offence these signs and symbols would cause," Nikitin was quoted as saying by the German news agency DPA. "I had them done in my youth. It was a big mistake and I wish I'd never done it."
Photographs of the bass-baritone show tattoos on his chest that resemble Nazi symbols. One which looks like a swastika appears in more recent photos to have been covered by a new tattoo.
Organisers of the festival, which was conceived by the composer himself and which began in the Bavarian town in 1876, welcomed Nikitin's resignation. A statement on the festival's website said: "His decision to give back the part of the Dutchman for these reasons is in line with the consistent rejection by the festival's management of any form of National Socialist thinking."
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments