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Anna Netrebko Profile |
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Birth Date: September 18, 1971
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Birth Place: Krasnodar, Russia
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Birth Name: Anna Jurjewna Netrebko
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Height:
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Biography |
Anna Netrebko is a Russian soprano who also holds Austrian
citizenship.
While a student at the conservatory of Saint Petersburg,
Netrebko worked as a floor cleaner as an odd job at St
Petersburg's Mariinsky Theatre (home of the Kirov Opera).
Later, she auditioned for the Mariinsky company, where
conductor Valery Gergiev recognised her from her prior
odd-job work. He subsequently became her vocal mentor.
Guided by him, she made her operatic stage debut at the
Mariinsky as Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro. She went on to
sing many prominent roles with the Kirov Opera, including
Amina in La Sonnambula, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, Rosina in
The Barber of Seville, and Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor.
In 1995, the 24-year-old Netrebko made her American debut as
Lyudmila in Glinka's Ruslan and Lyudmila at the San
Francisco Opera. Following this successful performance, she
became a frequent guest singer in San Francisco. She also
appeared in other cities in the US and is known as an
acclaimed interpreter of Russian operatic roles, such as
Lyudmila, Natasha in Prokofiev's War and Peace, Louisa in
his Betrothal in a Monastery and Marfa in The Tsar's Bride.
Netrebko has also made successful forays into bel canto and
romantic roles such as Gilda in Rigoletto, Musetta in La
Bohčme and Giulietta in I Capuleti e i Montecchi.
In 2002, Netrebko made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera
as Natasha in the Met premiere of War and Peace. In the same
year, she sang her first Donna Anna at the Salzburg
Festival's production of Don Giovanni, conducted by Nikolaus
Harnoncourt.She also performed at the Russian Children's
Welfare Society's major fundraiser, the "Petroushka Ball".
She also appeared in 2003 and 2006 and is an Honorary
Director of the Charity.
Her 2003 repertoire included performances as Violetta in
Verdi's La Traviata in Munich, the title role in Lucia di
Lammermoor at the Los Angeles Opera, and Donna Anna at the
Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. That year also saw the
release of her first studio album, Opera Arias, which became
one of the best selling classical recordings of the year.
Her second album, Sempre Libera, was released the following
year. She sang a highly regarded Roméo et Juliette with
Rolando Villazón, with whom she also performed in L'Elisir
d'Amore in 2005. In the same year, she appeared as Violetta
Valéry in La Traviata at the Salzburg Festival, conducted by
Carlo Rizzi, again with Villazón. Her most recent role
(2007) is the character Elvira of Vincenzo Bellini's I
Puritani at the Metropolitan Opera.
In March 2006, Netrebko applied to become an Austrian
citizen, receiving her citizenship in late July. According
to an interview in the Austrian weekly news, she will live
in Vienna and Salzburg. This has led to some backlash in
Russia.
The year 2006 saw the release of Netrebko's Russian Album,
accompanied by the Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre, with
Valery Gergiev conducting. Interestingly, the album reached
the Top 10 in the German pop charts. March 2007 saw the CD
release of Duets with Rolando Villazón, by Deutsche
Grammophon.
In March 2007, Netrebko announced that she would be an
ambassador for SOS Children's Village in Austria, and be a
sponsor for the Tomilino village in Russia.
On May 30, 2007, Netrebko made her Carnegie Hall debut with
Russian baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky and the Orchestra of
St. Luke's. Originally scheduled for March 2, 2006, Netrebko
postponed this recital because she did not feel artistically
ready. |
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Other
Information |
She originally wanted to be an actress, but her voice
teachers told her she'd have a better shot at singing.
She studied at the St. Petersburg Conservatory for many
years, and upon completing her schooling, she got a job
cleaning at the theater.
Won the International Rimsky-Korsakov Vocal Competition in
St. Petersburg (1996).
Applied for Austrian citizenship in Vienna (March 2006).
Much admired for her sumptuous voice and her great personal
beauty.
Her performance as "Donna Anna" in "Don Giovanni", conducted
by Nikolaus Harnoncourt at the 2002 Salzburg Festival, made
her a superstar of opera in Europe.
Her favorite partner on stage is Mexican tenor Rolando
Villazón. |
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