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Anna Netrebko

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Anna Netrebko is a Russian operatic soprano, born on 18 September 1971 in Krasnodar into a family with Kuban Cossack roots. While studying at the St Petersburg Conservatory she worked as a cleaner at the Mariinsky Theatre. When she later auditioned, the conductor Valery Gergiev recognised her, and he became her mentor. In 1994 she made her debut on that stage as Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro. This was the start of her career at the Mariinsky, and in 1995 she made her American debut in San Francisco.

Music and breakthrough

The international breakthrough came in August 2002 with Donna Anna in Don Giovanni at the Salzburger Festspiele, conducted by Nikolaus Harnoncourt. In 2002 she also made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera. Since 2003 she has recorded exclusively for Deutsche Grammophon, with records such as Opera Arias in 2003 and Sempre libera in 2004. She has sung at the Wiener Staatsoper, the Royal Opera and La Scala. At first she was known for lyric and coloratura roles, later she chose heavier Romantic parts, such as Leonora in Il trovatore.

Influence

Netrebko received several Echo Klassik awards and in 2007 appeared on the Time 100 list. In 2008 she became People's Artist of Russia. She showed that an opera star of the twenty-first century can also reach a large audience outside the opera house.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to an aria by Netrebko from Opera Arias and notice her warm, dark soprano. Try to hear how she lets high notes swell without forcing.

Discography

Studio albums

Categories: Artists