The Metropolitan Opera has remained steadfast in its support of Ukraine ever since Russia attacked, even going so far as firing several Russian artists because of their ties to Putin.

After the current Republican in the White House signed another deal with Russia for oil, the Met’s General Manager Peter Gelb reaffirmed that support for Ukraine during a performance of Verdi’s Macbeth.

From Opera Wire:

To that effect, conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin led the Met Orchestra in the Ukrainian national anthem, with the entire audience in the hall standing during the performance.

Since the war broke out in Ukraine in February 2022, the Metropolitan Opera has supported Ukraine and has also worked alongside the Polish National Opera to form the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra. It has also invited the First Lady of Ukraine who held a fundraiser, and invited Ukrainian soldiers and the Ukrainian ambassador to a performance of “Tosca” starring Ukrainian soprano Liudmyla Monastyrska.

In the spring of 2023 the Met displayed the Ukrainian flag on the facade of the theater for four weeks. On August 24, 2023, the company observed Ukrainian Independence Day and in September 2023 General Manager Peter Gelb received Ukraine’s Order of Merit.

Many in the audience sang along.