Breaking News - Rolando Villazón cancels all the performances for 2009

Rolando Villazón has to undergo larynx surgery because he has a cyst on his vocal chords. For this reason the tenor has to cancel all of his performances scheduled for 2009.

Among those performances, Villazón has to cancel the performances of L'Elisir d'Amore with Anna Netrebko at the Opera Bastille, Paris in October 2009 and the performances of Les Contes d'Hoffmann with Anna Netrebko, Elina Garanca and René Pape at the Met, New York in December 2009 and beginning of January 2010. According to his physician a full recovery could be expected at the end of the year. At this moment, we do not know if he will be able to sing in Idomeneo with Anna Netrebko at Palais Garnier, Paris in the performances running from the beginning of January till mid February 2010. Villazón's manager expects that he will be able to sing in Carmen with Anna Netrebko, Elina Garanca and Ildebrando d'Arcangelo at the Wiener Staatsoper in May 2010.

Rolando has left the following message on his official website:

“Due to a cyst that has just been detected on one of my vocal chords I will very shortly have to undergo surgery. After the operation, there is a phase of rehabilitation and in order to make sufficient time for this, I have unfortunately had to withdraw from all of my performances until the end of the year. I would like to apologise to you, my wonderful audience, for any inconvenience these cancellations will cause you and want to express my gratitude for the loyalty and support of my audience, colleagues and friends. I am greatly looking forward to be performing again in the coming year. I will share any further information as and when it becomes available, so please do check this space.”
Rolando Villazón

The Met has released the following news flash:

Villazón Withdraws from Hoffmann
April 29, 2009
Rolando Villazón has withdrawn from the title role in the Met’s new production of Offenbach’s Les Contes d’Hoffmann, scheduled for December 3, 2009 through January 2, 2010. He announced today that he is undergoing throat surgery and expects to return to the stage in 2010. The Metropolitan Opera looks forward to his return in future seasons. A replacement for the role of Hoffmann will be announced at a later date

Rolando Villazon muss bis Jahresende pausieren, DiePresse.com 29. April 2009 [German]
Pause bis zum Jahresende, derNewsticker.de 29. April 2009 [German]
Längere Zwangspause für Rolando Villazon, derStandard.at 29. April 2009 [German]
Karrierepause für Rolando Villazón, Vienna.at 29. April 2009 [German]
Villazon muss bis Jahresende pausieren, Oe24.at 29. April 2009 [German]
Rolando Villazón será operado de la garganta y suspende sus conciertos, Telecinco.es 29. April 2009 [Spanish]

Anna Netrebko at the Ruhrtriennale 2009 Festival

Today it has been announced the Programme of the Ruhrtriennale 2009 Festival which will run from 15. August to 11. October 2009 under the direction of Willy Decker. Anna Netrebko will perform in a concert with Massimo Giordano and the Duisburger Philharmoniker conducted by Emmanuel Villaume at the Jahrhunderthalle Bochum, Bochum on 13. September 2009. Tickets prices range from 40 EUR to 100 EUR.

Breaking news - Tickets for the concert of Anna Netrebko were sold out by 12:30 PM today!!!

Book tickets on line now
Anna Netrebko 2009-2010 Season Schedule

La Traviata, Opernhaus Zürich, Zürich 26. April 2009

La Traviata - Verdi

Conductor Marco Armiliato

Producer/production Jürgen Flimm
Set design Erich Wonder
Costumes Florence von Gerkan
Lighting Jakob Schlosstein
Choir rehearsal Jürg Hämmerli
Choreography Katharina Lühr

Orchester der Oper Zürich
Chor der Oper Zürich

Anna Netrebko Violetta Valéry
Anja Schlosser Flora Bervoix
Liuba Chuchrova Annina
Piotr Beczala Alfredo Germont
Vladimir Stoyanov Giorgio Germont
Miroslav Christoff Gastone
Cheyne Davidson Barone Douphal
Pavel Daniluk Marquese d Obigny
Valery Murga Dottor Grenvil
Noel Vazquez Giuseppe
Heikki Yrttiaho Domestico
Uwe Kosser Comissionario

Herbert, a regular and faithful reader of this blog, attended the performance of La Traviata at the Opernhaus Zürich on 26. April 2009. Despite the fact that it was Anna's first appearance at the Opernhaus Zürich, Herbert tell us that "the audience already love and adore her. There was a Swiss couple sitting next to me, and the lady said: One can get addicted to Netrebko".

Talking about Anna's performance on stage, Herbert tell us: "I was so surprised how different Anna sang and acted the role of Violetta compared with Salzburg 2005. She is no girl anymore, but a woman, her voice is rounder and her intensity has grown, especially when she is on stage all alone and sings her arias like "E strano" and "Sempre libera". The audience almost stopped breathing when she roamed across the stage, filled it with her presence, looked straight into the audience or hurled a glass against the wall".

After the performance, it was a signing session in the lounge of the first tier, with Anna Netrebko and Piotr Beczala. "They came in only 30 minutes after the final curtain, looking "fresh" and good-humoured as if they had been on holidays. They signed CDs, DVDs, photos, posters... anything, and they were in a very good temper. Only when she finally left the room, Anna confessed that her feet were aching because of her new high-heels..."

Photo Album
Exclusive curtain call and signing session photos by Herbert

Anna Netrebko will be at the baptism of the first cruise ship of TUI Cruises in Hamburg on 15. May 2009

Opera star Anna Netrebko will attend the baptism of the cruise "Mein Schiff", the first cruise ship of TUI Cruises, which will take place at the fish market in Hamburg on 15. May 2009.

The shipping company has announced this Monday that Anna Netrebko, accompanied by the Berlin Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, will sing the premiere of the company's anthem "Ocean of Love".





The appearance of the 37-year-old soprano at the ship's baptism is, according to TUI Cruises CEO Richard J. Vogel, also the prelude of a long-term cooperation with the opera star. TUI Cruises sponsor the Open-Air concert of Anna Netrebko and Dmitri Hvorostovsky at the Königplatz in Munich on 10. July 2009. TUI Cruises is also supporting the singer in their commitment to an SOS Children's Village in Russia. The newly formed TUI Cruises, based in Hamburg, is a joint venture between TUI AG and the U.S. shipping company Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd.

Anna Netrebko kommt nach Hamburg, DerNewsticker.de 27. April 2009

Anna Netrebko, Erwin Schrott and Tiago at the Chopard shop in Zürich on Schweizer Illustrierte

Anna Netrebko with her fiance, the bass-baritone Erwin Schrott, and their son Tiago, were at the Chopard shop in Zürich last friday, two days after the debut of the opera diva at the Opernhaus Zürich as Violetta Valéry in Verdi's La Traviata, where she was wearing a CHF 4.0 Million Chopard necklace with emeralds (60 carats) and 172 diamonds and matching earrings.

The Swiss site Schweizer-Illustrierte.com has published the article Diva der Herzen written by Caroline Micaela Hauger and an exclusive photo galery covering the visit of Anna, Erwin and Tiago to the Chopard shop at Bahnhofstrasse, Zürich on 24. April 2009. At the Chopard shop, they were welcome by Caroline Gruosi-Scheufele, Artistic Director and Co-chairman of Chopard worldwide.

Related posts
Article - Die Primamamma, Blick.ch 26. Apr 2009
Anna Netrebko, Erwin Schrott and Tiago at the Chopard shop in Zürich on the SF 1 TV channel

Anna Netrebko, Erwin Schrott and Tiago at the Chopard shop in Zürich on the SF 1 TV channel

Anna Netrebko with her husband, the bass-baritone Erwin Schrott, and their son Tiago, were at the Chopard shop in Zürich last friday, two days after the debut of the opera diva at the Opernhaus Zürich as Violetta Valéry in Verdi's La Traviata. National swiss TV channel SF 1 was covering the visit and interviewed Anna at the Chopard shop.







Related posts
Article - Die Primamamma, Blick.ch 26. Apr 2009

Article - Die Primamamma, Blick.ch 26. Apr 2009

The swiss online magazine Blick.ch has published today an article about Anna Netrebko written by Claudia Schlup. The article, Die Primamamma, shows the opera diva in her most important and beautiful role as woman, wife of the uruguayan bass-baritone Erwin Schrott and mother of their baby Tiago. All three of them were walking on Bahnhofstrasse in Zürich last friday, two days after her stunning debut at the Opernhaus Zürich as Violetta Valéry in Verdi's La Traviata. On their walk, they visited the shop of Chopard. Anna, which has a contract with Chopard, was wearing a CHF 4.0 Million Chopard necklace, with emeralds (6o carats) and 172 diamonds, and matching earrings, during the second scene of the second act of La Traviata's premiere on 22. April 2009. Erwin and Tiago left her for a while, just to come back with a wonderful bouquet of purple roses for Anna.

Breaking News - Vladimir Stoyanov replaces Juan Pons in the remaining performances of La Traviata at the Opernhaus Zürich

Vladimir Stoyanov replaces Juan Pons as Giorgio Germont in the two remaining performances of La Traviata on 26. and 29. April 2009 at the Opernhaus Zürich.

La Traviata, Opernhaus Zürich, Zürich 22. April 2009

La Traviata - Verdi

Conductor Marco Armiliato

Producer/production Jürgen Flimm
Set design Erich Wonder
Costumes Florence von Gerkan
Lighting Jakob Schlosstein
Choir rehearsal Jürg Hämmerli
Choreography Katharina Lühr

Orchester der Oper Zürich
Chor der Oper Zürich

Anna Netrebko Violetta Valéry
Anja Schlosser Flora Bervoix
Liuba Chuchrova Annina
Piotr Beczala Alfredo Germont
Juan Pons Giorgio Germont
Miroslav Christoff Gastone
Cheyne Davidson Barone Douphal
Pavel Daniluk Marquese d Obigny
Valery Murga Dottor Grenvil
Noel Vazquez Giuseppe
Heikki Yrttiaho Domestico
Uwe Kosser Comissionario

TV Videoclips

Anna Netrebko im Zürcher Opernhaus, SF Tagesschau 21. April 2009

Reviews
Auch Marcel Ospel liess sich von Anna Netrebko betören, Von Anna Kardos und Edgar Schuler, Tages-Anzeiger 23. April 2009 [German]
Entdeckung einer Künstlerin - Anna Netrebko in Verdis «Traviata» am Zürcher Opernhaus, Von Marianne Zelger-Vogt, NZZ Online 23. April 2009 [German]
Das «Sopranmodel» kam – und war noch besser als erwartet, Von Anna Kardos, Tages-Anzeiger 23. April 2009 [German]

More than 10,000 tickets sold for the Open Air Concert in München on 10. July 2009

More than 10,000 tickets have been sold for the Open-Air Concert of Anna Netrebko and Dmitri Hvorostovsky, with the Mariinsky Theater Orchestra conducted by Valery Gergiev, at the Königplatz, München on 10. July 2009. Extra new tickets starting at 65 EUR plus tax sales have been released and can be purchased at the usual ticket offices or at http://www.eventim.de/, http://www.muenchenticket.de/ or http://www.sz.www.deag.de/.

Ganz München freut sich auf Anna / ANNA NETREBKO - Das Klassik Open Air des Jahres, Lifepr.de 22. April 2009

Anna Netrebko at the ROH 2009-2010 Season

Today the Royal Opera House has officially announced the ROH 2009-2010 Season. I am proud to say that, as it was published on this blog several weeks ago, Anna Netrebko sings the title role of Massenet's Manon, partnered on stage by Rolando Villazón as Chevalier des Grieux, in a new production directed by Laurent Pelly and conducted by Antonio Pappano. All the dates and cast previously published in this blog have been confirmed today.

Anna Netrebko sings the title role of Manon for the first time with the Royal Opera. She has previously sung the role at the Los Angeles Opera in 2006, Wiener Staatsoper and Berlin Staatsoper Unter den Linden in 2007 and Wiener Staatsoper in 2008. Before making her role debut at the Royal Opera House she is also scheduled to sing this role at the Wiener Staatsoper in 2010. Anna Netrebko made her debut at the Royal Opera House as Servilia in La Clemenza di Tito in 2002 and has returned to Covent Garden to sing Donna Anna in Don Giovanni in 2003, Gilda in Rigoletto in 2005, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni in 2007, Violetta in La Traviata in 2008 and Giulietta in I Capuleti e I Montecchi in 2009.

Rolando Villazón sings the role of Chevalier des Grieux for the first time with the Royal Opera. He first performed the role together with Anna Netrebko at Los Angeles Opera in 2006 and again at the Berlin Staatsoper Unter den Linden in 2007. He has also sung the role in Wien, Barcelona and Genoa. He made his debut at the Royal Opera House as Hoffmann in Les Contes d'Hoffmann in 2004 and has returned to Covent Garden to sing Rodolfo in La Bohème, Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto, Lensky in Eugene Onegin and the title role in Don Carlo.

Laurent Pelly returns to Covent Garden to direct a new production of Massenet's Manon for the Royal Opera, together with the same creative team that produced La Fille du Régiment in 2007.

Maestro Antonio Pappano, now in his eighth Season with the Royal Opera conducts Manon, the last new production of the Season.

The schedule and cast of the Manon performances at the ROH is the following:

Manon, ROH, London 22. Jun 2010 – Anna Netrebkoª (Manon Lescaut), Rolando Villazónª (Le Chevalier des Grieux), Rusell Braun* (Lescaut), Christof Fischesserº (Le Comte des Grieux), Philip Langridge (Guillot de Morfontaine), William Shimellª (De Brétigny), Simona Mihai (Pousette), Louise Innes (Javotte), Kai Rüütel (Rosette), Lynton Black (Innkeeper); Laurent Pelly (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Antonio Pappano

Manon, ROH, London 25. Jun 2010 – Anna Netrebko (Manon Lescaut), Rolando Villazón (Le Chevalier des Grieux), Rusell Braun (Lescaut), Christof Fischesser (Le Comte des Grieux), Philip Langridge (Guillot de Morfontaine), William Shimell (De Brétigny), Simona Mihai (Pousette), Louise Innes (Javotte), Kai Rüütel (Rosette), Lynton Black (Innkeeper); Laurent Pelly (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Antonio Pappano

Manon, ROH, London 28. Jun 2010 – Anna Netrebko (Manon Lescaut), Rolando Villazón (Le Chevalier des Grieux), Rusell Braun (Lescaut), Christof Fischesser (Le Comte des Grieux), Philip Langridge (Guillot de Morfontaine), William Shimell (De Brétigny), Simona Mihai (Pousette), Louise Innes (Javotte), Kai Rüütel (Rosette), Lynton Black (Innkeeper); Laurent Pelly (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Antonio Pappano

Manon, ROH, London 1. Jul 2010 – Anna Netrebko (Manon Lescaut), Rolando Villazón (Le Chevalier des Grieux), Rusell Braun (Lescaut), Christof Fischesser (Le Comte des Grieux), Philip Langridge (Guillot de Morfontaine), William Shimell (De Brétigny), Simona Mihai (Pousette), Louise Innes (Javotte), Kai Rüütel (Rosette), Lynton Black (Innkeeper); Laurent Pelly (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Antonio Pappano

Manon, ROH, London 4. Jul 2010 – Anna Netrebko (Manon Lescaut), Rolando Villazón (Le Chevalier des Grieux), Rusell Braun (Lescaut), Christof Fischesser (Le Comte des Grieux), Philip Langridge (Guillot de Morfontaine), William Shimell (De Brétigny), Simona Mihai (Pousette), Louise Innes (Javotte), Kai Rüütel (Rosette), Lynton Black (Innkeeper); Laurent Pelly (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Antonio Pappano

Manon, ROH, London 7. Jul 2010 – Anna Netrebko (Manon Lescaut), Rolando Villazón (Le Chevalier des Grieux), Rusell Braun (Lescaut), Christof Fischesser (Le Comte des Grieux), Philip Langridge (Guillot de Morfontaine), William Shimell (De Brétigny), Simona Mihai (Pousette), Louise Innes (Javotte), Kai Rüütel (Rosette), Lynton Black (Innkeeper); Laurent Pelly (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Antonio Pappano

Manon, ROH, London 10. Jul 2010 – Anna Netrebko (Manon Lescaut), Rolando Villazón (Le Chevalier des Grieux), Rusell Braun (Lescaut), Christof Fischesser (Le Comte des Grieux), Philip Langridge (Guillot de Morfontaine), William Shimell (De Brétigny), Simona Mihai (Pousette), Louise Innes (Javotte), Kai Rüütel (Rosette), Lynton Black (Innkeeper); Laurent Pelly (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Antonio Pappano

Anna Netrebko 2009-2010 Season Schedule
Anna Netrebko Performances Database

Anna Netrebko makes her debut at the Opernhaus Zürich in La Traviata on 22. April 2009

This Wednesday 22. April 2009, the opera diva Anna Netrebko makes her very much long awaited debut at the Opernhaus Zürich in Verdi's La Traviata. Anna Netrebko as Violetta will be partnered on stage by a strong cast leaded by the polish tenor Piotr Beczala as Alfredo Germont and the spanish baritone Juan Pons as Giorgio Germont. The production is directed by Jürgen Flimm and Marco Armiliato conducts the Chorus and Orchestra of the Zürich Opera. Only 2 other performances with the same cast are scheduled on Sunday 26. April and Wednesday 29. April 2009.

Tickets for all the performances, with prices in Category 1, the most expensive one corresponding to Gala prices, are sold out since many months ago. A huge flood of tickets orders was received for those perfromances and more than 3000 orders, very much above average, have to be rejected. Many orders, came from abroad, mainly from Germany and Austria where Anna is considered as an authentic opera goddess.

In Erwartung Netrebkos, NZZ Online 18. April 2009, Neue Zürcher Zeitung by Marianne Zelger-Vogt

Die Diva kommt, Zürich bebt, Tagesanzeiger 21. April 2009 by Rico Bandle

Anna Netrebko erstmals im Zürcher Opernhaus, news.ch 22. April 2009

Anna Netrebko nominated for the Classical Brit Awards 2009 in the category "Female Artist of the Year"

Anna Netrebko has been nominated for the Classical Brit Awards 2009 in the category "Female Artist of the Year" for her albums La Bohème and Souvenirs. Russian opera diva Anna Netrebko already got the Classical Brit Award in this category last year. Australian-born soprano Danielle de Niese and trumpeter Alison Balsom, named young British classical performer of the year only three years ago, are in the running for the same award. The full nominations will be unveiled tonight at the Mayfair Hotel. The winners will be announced at the Royal Albert Hall on 14 May 2009.

Anna Netrebko Awards and Prizes Database
Anna Netrebko Awards and Prizes

Related news
Trumpeter on the Classical Brit shortlist, Evening Standard 20. April 2009
Classical Brits Launch 2009

Great Performances at the Met: Lucia di Lammermoor

This Wednesday 15. April 2009, within the program Great Performances at the Met, PBS will broadcast the 7. February 2009 Met performance of Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor, starring Anna Netrebko in the title role with Piotr Beczala as Edgardo, Mariusz Kwiecien as Enrico and Ildar Abdrazakov as Raimondo. Marco Armiliato is conducting. This performance was live transmitted to movie theaters worlwide within the The Met: Live in HD program.
GREAT PERFORMANCES AT THE MET, Wednesday, April 15, 2009, 9:00 pm - 11:30 pm ET
Lucia di Lammermoor preview

Updated on 15. April 2009
Lucia di Lammermoor, Met, New York 7. Feb 2009 will be available in HD at the Met Player on 21. April 2009

Related posts
Lucia di Lammermoor, Met, New York 7. Feb 2009

I Capuleti e I Montecchi, ROH, London 11. Apr 2009

I Capuleti e i Montecchi
Tragedia lirica in two acts (1830)
Music by Vincenzo Bellini
Libretto by Felice Romani

Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Thursday, 11. April 2009

Cast
Giulietta: Anna Netrebko
Romeo: Elina Garanca
Tebaldo: Dario Schmunck
Capelio: Eric Owens
Lorenzo: Giovanni Battista Parodi

Production
Musical Director: Mark Elder
Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden

Personal Report
Yesterday I attended the last performance of the sold-out run of I Capuleti e I Montecchi at the ROH with Elina Garanca as Romeo and Anna Netrebko as Giulietta.

When the best Romeo meet on the stage the best Giulietta, the result can not be other than a smashing unforgetteable performance. Both Anna and Elina were absolutely stunning, with beautiful, wide and powerful voices, able to come across a dense mass of orchestral music and chorus with incredible ease. When they were together on the stage, their voices were matching perfectly each other. But it was not just the voices, it was also a perfect chemistry between them on the stage.

Let me share with all of you something that Rhodri, a regular blog reader who attended several performances of this run, told me. Every time Anna or Elina have been singing during this run, the whole of the chorus have been standing in the wings listening and when Anna and Elina were singing together there wasn't any space to be found backstage at all!! They have loved every minute of Anna and Elina singing. This, I think, is the greatest compliment a chorus can give to other singers.

Maestro Mark Elder conducted the Orchestra ad Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. The production by Pier Luigi Pizzi was simple but effective, with a series of columns as main architectural element and playing with the lights in an effective manner. The fight scenes between the Capuleti and the Montecchi were also very good.

Reviews
Stephen Jay-Taylor has written in rec.music.opera

Last night of the run, and quite wonderful to experience again, not least because both Garança and Netrebko were both in sovereign voice and made an absolute six-course meal of Act I, scene ii. Golden Age singing, in fact, irrespective of when that Golden Age would notionally be placed. Singing of this quality would always have qualified, and amidst so much ridiculous hot air lately about deafening, graceless tenors that shook the world - or rather Manhattan - which is in some spurious nonsensical way designed solely to disbar those who either weren't there, or even born, from having an opinion on the subject, it's heartening to realise that there's a golden age going on right now, right in front of us.

Read the full review at rec.music.opera

Casta Diva, Mundo Clásico.com by Ditlev Rindom [english]
Duo de choc, ConcertoNet.com by Claudio Poloni [french]

Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott at the Dress Rehearsal of Il Trovatore, ROH, London 9. Apr 2009

As reported by blogger Intermezzo, including a graphic evidence, Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrott, seated in a private box, were enjoying the dress rehearsal of Il Trovatore at the ROH on 9. April 2009. Anna sings today the last performance of the second run of I Capuleti e I Montecchi, partnered by Elina Garanca. This monday is the premiere of Il Trovatore with a top cast including Roberto Alagna as Manrico, Dmitri Hvorostovsky as Count di Luna, Sondra Radvanovsky as Leonora and Malgorzata Walewska as Azucena. It's a production of Elijah Moshinsky and Carlo Rizzi is the conductor.

I Capuleti e I Montecchi, ROH, London 7. April 2009

I Capuleti e i Montecchi
Tragedia lirica in two acts (1830)
Music by Vincenzo Bellini
Libretto by Felice Romani

Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Thursday, 7. April 2009

Cast
Giulietta: Anna Netrebko
Romeo: Elina Garanca
Tebaldo: Dario Schmunck
Capelio: Eric Owens
Lorenzo: Giovanni Battista Parodi

Production
Musical Director: Mark Elder
Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden

Radio Broadcast
The performance of I Capuleti e I Montecchi, ROH, London 7. April 2009 has been recorded and it will be broadcast on 6. June 2009 at 6:30 PM on BBC3 Radio.

Photo Album
Curtain call and stage door photos after the performance of I Capuleti e I Montecchi, ROH, London 7. April 2009. Photos [1-4] by Herbert. Photo [5] by Anne-Laure.

Sean M. Gross talking about Anna Netrebko

Sean M. Gross, Director of Marketing and Special Projects at 21C Media Group, is Anna Netrebko's Press and Public Relations representative for North America. Before joining 21C Media Group, Sean was an associate in the vocal division at IMG Artists where he was also working with Anna Netrebko among other opera singers.

In December 2007, an interview of Albert Imperato, Founding Partner of 21C Media Group, to Sean Gross, was published in the Gramophone Magazine. In the interview Sean share with us some of his most treasured memories of working with Anna.

Anna's extremely multi-faceted. She's an excellent cook. She makes the most amazing blinis and different kinds of Russian salads - I can't even tell you what they are, but they are delicious! She's quite the fashionista, but I suppose that's not such a secret. She's also really gifted as a visual artist. She draws beautifully -some of her sketches are amazing. She has one in her apartment of these Rubens angels that she copied and people can't believe that it's her work.

I was in London with Anna last October [2006] and there was a party after her Barbican concert at the bar at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. After a sufficient amount of libation our group of 30 people starting playing spin the bottle. That was an interesting experience! I didn't kiss Anna, but it was nonetheless an interesting experience! A couple of years ago while I was at IMG she surprised us at the office by showing up with a blender that had a milkshake freshly prepared. She had walked from her apartment on the Upper West side with it and told us that we shouldn't worry - there wasn't too much vodka in it. That really shows how sweet and thoughtful Anna Netrebko is. Finally, there was her Russian Christmas party in New York last January. She had decorated her tree in what I imagine to be “typical Russian fashion” - or perhaps it was just typical Anna fashion. Some of the ornaments were bigger than my head! After eating loads of Russian food and drinking lots of vodka she pulled out these masks she had bought. Russians love masks, and we all put on the masks and turned to each other and took pictures and it was incredibly funny. Then we played opera charades, which is exactly as it sounds - and definitely only for music geeks.

Read the full interview in Gramophone

Anna Netrebko Gala at the Mariinsky Theater, St. Petersburg 4. Jul 2009

An Anna Netrebko Gala has been announced to be hold at the Mariinsky Theater, St. Petersburg 4. July 2009. The Gala has been organized as part of the "The Stars of the White Nights 2009" International Ballet and Opera Festival (21 May 2009 - 19 July 2009) and Maestro Valery Gergiev will conduct the Mariinsky Theater Symphony Orchestra. Tickets for the Anna Netrebko Gala range from US$499 to US$812.

Season 2008-2009

Anna Netrebko at the Festtage 2010, Philharmonie, Berlin

Anna Netrebko sings in a piano recital accompanied by Daniel Barenboim at the Festtage 2010 at the Philharmonie, Berlin, on Monday 29. March 2010. The programm contains works by Rimsky-Korsakov and Tchaikovsky. Tickets range from 45 EUR to 260 EUR.

Festtage 2010 Programm
Anna Netrebko 2009-2010 Season Schedule

Anna Netrebko at The Met: Live in HD 2009-2010 Series

The Met has announced the new Live in HD 2009-2010 Series.

Together with the Met’s plans for the 2009–10 season’s new productions and revivals, General Manager Peter Gelb and Music Director James Levine recently announced the lineup for next season’s Live in HD performances. The series will present nine live transmissions in its fourth season. Tickets for the 2009–10 series will go on sale in September, with priority access for Met members (before tickets are made available to the general public). The schedule is as follows:

Tosca – October 10
James Levine; Karita Mattila, Marcelo Álvarez, Juha Uusitalo, Paul Plishka

Aida – October 24
Daniele Gatti; Violeta Urmana, Dolora Zajick, Johan Botha, Carlo Guelfi, Roberto Scandiuzzi, Stefan Kocán

Turandot – November 7
Andris Nelsons; Maria Guleghina, Marina Poplavskaya, Marcello Giordani, Samuel Ramey


Les Contes d’Hoffmann – December 19
James Levine; Kathleen Kim, Anna Netrebko, Ekaterina Gubanova, Kate Lindsey, Joseph Calleja, Alan Held

Der Rosenkavalier – January 9
James Levine; Renée Fleming, Susan Graham, Christine Schäfer, Eric Cutler, Thomas Allen, Kristinn Sigmundsson

Carmen – January 16
Yannick Nézet-Séguin; Barbara Frittoli, Angela Gheorghiu, Roberto Alagna, Mariusz Kwiecien

Simon Boccanegra – February 6
James Levine; Adrianne Pieczonka, Marcello Giordani, Plácido Domingo, James Morris

Hamlet – March 27
Louis Langrée; Natalie Dessay, Jennifer Larmore, Toby Spence, Simon Keenlyside, James Morris

Armida – May 1
Riccardo Frizza; Renée Fleming, Lawrence Brownlee, Bruce Ford, José Manuel Zapata, Barry Banks, Kobie van Rensburg

Anna Netrebko at the Wiener Staatsoper 2009-2010 Season

The 2009-2010 Season at the Wiener Staatsoper has been just officially announced and we have stunning news related to the Anna Netrebko schedule there.

Anna Netrebko sings in La Bohème (Mimi), I Puritani (Elvira), Carmen (Micaela) and Manon (Manon Lescaut) and she will be partnered by outstanding casts including Piotr Beczala as Rodolfo in La Bohème, José Bros as Arturo and Mariusz Kwiecien as Riccardo in I Puritani, Elina Garanca as Carmen, Rolando Villazón as Don José and Ildebrando d'Arcangelo as Escamillo in Carmen, and Roberto Alagna as Le Chevalier des Grieux in Manon.

La Bohème, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 5. April 2010 – Anna Netrebko (Mimi), Piotr Beczala (Rodolfo), Elisabeta Marin (Musetta), Boaz Daniel (Marcello), TBA (Schaunard), TBA (Colline), TBA (Benoit), TBA (Alcindoro), TBA (Parpignol), TBA (Sergeant), TBA (Officer); Franco Zeffirelli (Inszenierung), Chor und Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Constantinos Carydis

La Bohème, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 8. April 2010 – Anna Netrebko (Mimi), Piotr Beczala (Rodolfo), Elisabeta Marin (Musetta), Boaz Daniel (Marcello), TBA (Schaunard), TBA (Colline), TBA (Benoit), TBA (Alcindoro), TBA (Parpignol), TBA (Sergeant), TBA (Officer); Franco Zeffirelli (Inszenierung), Chor und Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Constantinos Carydis

I Puritani, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 19. April 2010 – Anna Netrebkoª (Elvira), José Bros (Arturo), Mariusz Kwiecien (Riccardo), Christof Fischesser (Giorgio), TBA (Enrichetta), TBA (Gualtiero), TBA (Bruno); John Dew (Inszenierung), Chor und Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Jan Latham-König

I Puritani, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 22. April 2010 – Anna Netrebko (Elvira), José Bros (Arturo), Mariusz Kwiecien (Riccardo), Christof Fischesser (Giorgio), TBA (Enrichetta), TBA (Gualtiero), TBA (Bruno); John Dew (Inszenierung), Chor und Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Jan Latham-König

I Puritani, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 25. April 2010 – Anna Netrebko (Elvira), José Bros (Arturo), Mariusz Kwiecien (Riccardo), Christof Fischesser (Giorgio), TBA (Enrichetta), TBA (Gualtiero), TBA (Bruno); John Dew (Inszenierung), Chor und Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Jan Latham-König

Carmen, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 3. May 2010 – Elina Garanca (Carmen), Rolando Villazón (Don José), Anna Netrebkoª (Micaela), Ildebrando D’Arcangelo (Escamillo); Franco Zeffirelli (Inszenierung), Chor und Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Mariss Jansons

Carmen, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 6. May 2010 – Elina Garanca (Carmen), Rolando Villazón (Don José), Anna Netrebko (Micaela), Ildebrando D’Arcangelo (Escamillo); Franco Zeffirelli (Inszenierung), Chor und Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Mariss Jansons

Carmen, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 9. May 2010 – Elina Garanca (Carmen), Rolando Villazón (Don José), Anna Netrebko (Micaela), Ildebrando D’Arcangelo (Escamillo); Franco Zeffirelli (Inszenierung), Chor und Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Mariss Jansons

Carmen, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 12. May 2010 – Elina Garanca (Carmen), Rolando Villazón (Don José), Anna Netrebko (Micaela), Ildebrando D’Arcangelo (Escamillo); Franco Zefirelli (Inszenierung), Chor und Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Mariss Jansons

Carmen, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 15. May 2010 – Elina Garanca (Carmen), Rolando Villazón (Don José), Anna Netrebko (Micaela), Ildebrando D’Arcangelo (Escamillo); Franco Zeffirelli (Inszenierung), Chor und Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Mariss Jansons

Manon, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 18. May 2010 – Anna Netrebko (Manon Lescaut), Roberto Alagna (Le Chevalier des Grieux), Adrian Eröd (Lescaut), Dan Paul Dumitrescu (Le Comte des Grieux), TBA (Guillot de Morfontaine), TBA (De Brétigny), TBA (Pousette), TBA (Javotte), TBA (Rosette), TBA (Wirt); Andrei Serban (Inszenierung), Chor und Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Claude Schnitzler

Manon, Wiener Staatsoper, Wien 21. May 2010 – Anna Netrebko (Manon Lescaut), Roberto Alagna (Le Chevalier des Grieux), Adrian Eröd (Lescaut), Dan Paul Dumitrescu (Le Comte des Grieux), TBA (Guillot de Morfontaine), TBA (De Brétigny), TBA (Pousette), TBA (Javotte), TBA (Rosette), TBA (Wirt); Andrei Serban (Inszenierung), Chor und Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, Claude Schnitzler

Season 2009-2010

I Capuleti e I Montecchi, ROH, London 30. Mar 2009

I Capuleti e i Montecchi
Tragedia lirica in two acts (1830)
Music by Vincenzo Bellini
Libretto by Felice Romani

Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Thursday, 30 March 2009 7:30 PM

Cast
Giulietta: Anna Netrebko
Romeo: Elina Garanca
Tebaldo: Dario Schmunck
Capelio: Eric Owens
Lorenzo: Giovanni Battista Parodi

Production
Musical Director: Mark Elder
Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden

Reports
Rhodri attended this performance and kinly wrote the following report for the blog

I was feeling a bit apprehensive as to whether Anna would sing with the date coming after four performances of Lucia, so I was relieved to learn that she was indeed singing. Although Elina was recovering from a cold the only sign of this was in the care she took when reaching her high notes, and I had the feeling she didn't hit her highest notes on the night, but even so she was once again a singer worth listening to all night long. The highlight? Again the duet between Giulietta and Romeo was magical, a "pin drop" moment. But I would also say that the death sequence too was performed very movingly and I can't wait to see it from a distance not quite as far as I was last night in the upper reaches of the amphitheatre so I can experience the acting which would just top off the singing for me.

The male leads were once again left in the wake of Anna & Elina, although I have to say that Dario Schmunk (Tebaldo) had done some obvious work since I'd seen the dress rehearsal and it was good to see that he has been trying to improve his performance instead of merely just turning up and getting paid. The only problem was that the tempi he'd decided on for his solos were quite slow and did hinder the early rhythm of the performance – but these are small quibbles. Overall it was another great performance, but I think, after seeing it twice now, that the production would benefit from a stronger hand in the direction department, especially where the chorus are concerned – they just seem very static to me and move like a herd, which I assume is what the director was looking for in order to highlight the difference between the personal struggle of Romeo and Giulietta against their public / family ties. But even so, just a little bit of movement would help to combat the sense of feeling that they are marking time until Anna and Elina take to the stage.

But as Intermezzo said in her blog, it was a very enjoyable night with Anna and Elina bringing the house down – now if only Anna would do a signing session then it would make the whole run quite complete!