Update: Per Anna Netrebko's PR, it is to be noted that she will NOT be appearing at the closing ceremonies of the Olympics. That information, from various websites, is incorrect.
While it turned out to be a pretty unremarkable game, Super Bowl XLVIII opened with soprano Renée Fleming's brilliant, albeit canned rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner." Now, another world-renowned opera singer has taken center stage at an international sporting event, marking the second such distinction this month alone.
Yes, Putin's favorite warbler Anna Netrebko performed on Friday at the opening ceremony of the 2014 Sochi Olympics. She sang "The Olympic Anthem" as the ringed flag was presented during a pretty odd spectacle.
The hymn of the Olympics has always been part of the opening ceremony, where the anthem of the games is sung in the host nation's language. And having a Russian-born singer open said ceremony was crucial, especially during this time of social strife.
As it turns out, Netrebko will close the Olympic ceremony, too.
Back to that opener, though. Again, it was just weird...even by Putin standards.
Err, a corps of 100-plus dancers re-enacting the imperial ball from War and Peace? The ballet may have been well-received, but the friction between time periods sure was stark. The high culture institution touched upon the more racy subjects of Russia old and new, and that proved a little too acidic for us to digest.
And we're not even going to touch that whole "Get Lucky" debacle.
As the Olympics continue in Sochi, more on the classical front is sure to come. So, stay tuned to Classicalite. Unlike Bob Costas, our eyes (and ears) are fine.
Until then, here's hoping neither athlete nor musician falls victim to the ungodly housing conditions currently blowing up our Twitter feed.
