Offended by blackface, a US singer withdraws from an opera in Italy

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The American singer announced on her angeljoyblue Instagram page that she would be withdrawing

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from this month's performance of "La Traviata" at Verona's Arena since

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theatre previously staged another Giuseppe Verdi opera, "Aida,

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Such "archaic" theatrical techniques, she said, were "offensive, degrading, and downright racist."

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On the Arena's website, however, Angel Blue was still listed as singing the part of Violetta

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The theatre expressed its desire for Blue, a Black actor, to accept an invitation to speak with Arena

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