Opera Australia say rehearsals will go on despite homophobic singer allegations

Opera Australia say rehearsals will go on despite homophobic singer allegations
Image: Georgian opera singer Tamar Iveri.

OPERA Australia has just published a statement regarding allegedly homophobic soprano Tama Iveri, stating that the singer has apologised and rehearsals and performances will go on as planned.

Iveri (pictured) who is from the central Asian country of Georgia and is currently in Sydney rehearsing for Otello and will perform in Melbourne later this year, has been plagued by controversy following allegations she penned a homophobic diatribe on her Facebook page in which IDAHOT  supporters in the capital city of Tblisi were branded “fecal masses”.

Georgian LGBTI rights group Identoba published a translation of the post which Iveri was said to have subsequently taken down.

“I was quite proud of the fact how Georgian society spat at the parade,” said the translation.

The message goes onto to implore Georgian’s President to “stop vigorous attempts to bring West’s “fecal masses” in the mentality of the people by means of propaganda.”

“Even today, US ambassador said that the people who raided the rally yesterday were against NATO.

“No, Mr Ambassador: those, who yesterday raided the rally, are Georgian youth of pure blood, still unspoilt by you,” the translation continues.

Identoba directed the comments to the National Opera of Paris who have reportedly now withdrawn an invitation for the singer to perform.

With a social media campaign calling on Opera Australia to sack Iveri continuing to grow, and a Change.org petition circulating as well, Opera Australia published a statement regarding the allegations on its Facebook page at 12noon today.

“Opera Australia has become aware in the past 24 hours, of the media and social media coverage of comments reported to have been made by soprano Tamar Iveri,” the statement read.

“The company has made the singer aware of the response from the Australian media and people via social media.

“Tamar Iveri has sought to clarify her views on this important issue, and has issued an apology and explanation on her own Facebook page. This can be seen here: https://www.facebook.com/tamariverisoprano

“Rehearsals and performances at Opera Australia are continuing as planned.”

Iveri reportedly blamed her husband for rewriting her original letter, which she said she deleted as soon as she saw his homophobic remarks and how it was under her name.

The Georgian soprano is currently in Sydney rehearsing for her role as Desdemona in Otello at the Sydney Opera House, before heading to Melbourne in November to perform in Tosca.

On Opera Australia’s website a biography of Iveri says she made her Australian debut last year and “has been acclaimed throughout the world in theatres which include the Vienna State Opera, The Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Opera Bastille, Paris, and many others.”

Earlier, the Star Observer asked Opera Australia directly if they knew of the allegations, if they were investigating their veracity and if they thought it appropriate someone accused of homophobia should perform with the company.

Opera Australia declined to comment to those specific questions.

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7 responses to “Opera Australia say rehearsals will go on despite homophobic singer allegations”

  1. Voice your concerns directly to who it matters! Demand that Tamar Iveri be removed immediately. Her voice is not welcome here. Indeed she has a right to freedom of speech, so do we!

  2. There is an opportunity for the Australian LGBT community to show Tamar Ivieri how big their hearts are, how open their minds are, how intelligent, compassionate and forgiving they are by turning up to OA’s shows in droves! Maybe by showing Tamar Ivieri the love there will be a shift in her consciousness, and maybe there will be a ripple effect in other peoples consciousness? I say show her the love!

  3. Australian tax-payers’ money should not be used to pay a Georgian neonazi facist like Tamar Iveri.

    This vile harridan (with a voice like a castrated cat) should never have been allowed into Australia at all, since she is a member of the Georgian Nazi Party.

  4. Opera Australia is hosting an open day at the Sydney Opera House tomorrow from 9:30am…the LGBTQI community should show their faces and make our voices heard.