Anna Netrebko's interview on RT

Opera Now: Divine Diva Anna Netrebko

The cover of the October 2011 issue of Opera Now features the "Divine Diva Anna Netrebko".

The new reigning diva shares a cheese sandwich and a few home truths with their Paris correspondent Francis Carlin.

Get out of the classroom! You are not a Callas!

Anna Netrebko made an appearance on the WNYC's SoundCheck - The New Face of the Met on 28. September 2011.

The programm contains excerpts from her new album "Live at the Metropolitan Opera" and her Met's 2011-2012 Season Opening Night Premiere as Anna Bolena on 26. Sep 2011.

In an interesting and relaxed interview Anna talks about different topics: her beginnings at the Conservatory, her son Tiago and her husband Erwin Schrott, Donizetti's "Anna Bolena" or her interest aside of singing opera, like the opening of a restaurant in Wien.

A particularly funny story happened when she was 18 as a young student at the Conservatory. She used to listen to Maria Callas. Once, she got drunk and she was singing at the classroom several of those italian arias she had been listening. One of the professors came in and shout to her "Get out of the classroom! You are not a Callas!". She lost her voice for one week.

Listen to WNYC's SoundCheck - The New Face of the Met

Anna Netrebko plans to sing at Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Games

In a recent interview with RT, Anna Netrebko said that she plans to sing at the opening and/or closing ceremonies of the 2014 Winter Olympics Games which will be held in Sochi, near her native city of Krasnodar, from 7. Feb to 23. Feb 2014.

Meet Anna Netrebko at the Met Opera Shop on Wednesday,12. Oct at 2:00 PM

Anna Netrebko, currently starring as Anna Bolena at the Met, will be signing copies of her new album "Live at the Metropolitan Opera" at the Met Opera Shop on Wednesday, 12. Oct at 2:00 PM

Anna Bolena, Opening Night Premiere, Met, NYC 26. Sep 2011

Anna Netrebko, the world's most charismatic soprano, brought down the house yesterday night at the Opening Gala Premiere of the Met's 2011-2012 Season as Anna Bolena, being this the first time ever Donizetti's masterpiece was perfomed at the Metropolitan Opera.

The production was by David McVicar and the performance was conducted by Marco Armilato. The cast featured Ekaterina Gubanova as Jane Seymour, Ildar Abdrazakov as Henry VIII and Stephen Costello as Lord Percy in the main roles.

For the sixth straight year, the Opening Night was transmitted live to multiple giant screens in Times Square. Approximately 2,000 seats were available on a first come, first served basis, with additional standing room provided. The performance was also shown on a screen on the Met façade, with approximately 3,000 seats available on Lincoln Center’s Josie Robertson Plaza. Free tickets, with a limit of two per person, were distributed at the Met box office. Pre-show coverage, including red-carpet interviews, hosted by Deborah Voigt, started at 6:00 PM EST.

The Opening Night Gala was broadcast live on Metropolitan Opera Radio on SiriusXM and streamed live on the Met’s website. Both transmissions also featured pre-show coverage, starting at 6:00 PM EST.

Anna Netrebko made her outstanding worlwide debut as Anna Bolena on 2. April 2011 at the Wiener Staatsoper. Deutsche Grammophon will release a live video recording of those performances. A 2 DVD video will be internationally released on 14. October 2011 and the Blu-Ray disc version will be released on 4. November 2011.

PROGRAMME

ANNA BOLENA
Music by Gaetano Donizetti
Text by Felici Romani

Met's 2011-2012 Season Opening Night, Met, NYC 26. Sep 2011

CAST
Anna Bolena: Anna Netrebko
Giovanna Seymour: Ekaterina Gubanova
Smeton: Tamara Mumford
Lord Riccardo Percy: Stephen Costello
Enrico VIII: Ildar Abdrazakov
Lord Rochefort: Keith Miller
Sir Hervey: Eduardo Valdes

THE PRODUCTION TEAM
Production: David McVicar
Set Designer: Robert Jones
Costume Designer: Jenny Tiramani
Lighting Designer: Paule Constable
Choreographer: Andrew George

Conductor: Marco Armiliato

LIBRETTO
Anna Bolena | Italian / Spanish Libretto | Atto 1 | Atto 2

PRESS REVIEWS
Mike Silverman (AP), in an outstanding, in-deep and detailed review of Anna Bolena's Opening Night Premiere at the Met, writes "Netrebko, always a naturally charismatic presence on stage, has now at age 40 grown into the vocal demands of the role. Her dark, syrupy, slightly melancholy tone has deepened and taken on more power, without any noticeable loss of lyric freedom at the top of her range. In fact, she has worked hard to cultivate a respectable trill — something she was criticized for lacking in earlier forays into the bel canto repertory". Mr Silverman adds "So she can melt our hearts one moment with a soft high C of great delicacy, then pin us to backs of our seats the next with a ferocious outburst of notes cascading over more than an octave."
2 Annas: Netrebko as 'Bolena' conquers Met | By Mike Silverman (AP) | Washington Examiner | 27. Sep 2011.

Anthony Tommasini writes in the New York Times: "‎Then at the end of this “Mad Scene,” when Anna, restored to horrific reality, curses the king and his new queen, Giovanna (Jane Seymour), and stalks off to her execution, Ms. Netrebko dispatched Donizetti’s cabaletta, all brilliant coloratura runs and vehement phrases, with a defiance that brought down the house."  
A Queen’s Delusion and Defiance Opens the Met Season | By Anthony Tommasini | The New York Times | 27. Sep 2011.

James Jorden, in his article for the New York Post, states that "The new monarch — ruling not over England but the Met — is Anna Netrebko, whose radiant performance at the company’s opening night Monday catapulted her to “prima donna assoluta”: undisputed superstar". In his review of the premiere, Mr. Jorden writes "It’s music that demands everything in a diva’s arsenal, and Netrebko delivered, her ravishing soft high C’s and delicate trills contrasting with slashing coloratura plummeting through the full soprano register".
Netrebko makes 'Anna'-xtroardinary queen | By James Jorden | The New York Post | 27. Sep 2011

Olivia Giovetti writes in WQXR "Her effortless stage persona and technique (showing signs of refinement in recent months) is what seemed to inspire her colleagues to rise to the occasion, and a luscious tone made her a natural in the role of Henry VIII’s star-crossed second wife. Though Netrebko has had many star turns in her decade of performing with the Met, this surely ranks as her most assertive as she fearlessly careened from desperate embraces and stares to delirious “Ah mio signors!” in the Act I finale to a rage-and-guilt-laden confrontation with her romantic rival and a spitfire reckoning scene with her husband and former lover."
Anna Netrebko Sets a Royal Standard as 'Anna Bolena' | By Olivia Giovetti | WQXR | 27. Sep 2011

Zachary Woolfe, in his review for the New York Observer, states "Ms. Netrebko’s voice, at 40, is warm and full, without edge. Her appeal is deceptively simple: when she sings, you don’t want her to stop. Her performance is both daring and assured. At the end of Act I, she almost chokes out “Guidici? Ad Anna?” (“Judges? For Anne?”) when she realizes her fate has been sealed, then telescopes the following note outward, pivoting from shock to rage. She faces upstage at key moments, trusting that she can convey emotion through posture alone."
Bravo Bolena! Soprano Anna Netrebko Dazzles in Met Production | By Zachary Woolfe | The New York Observer | 28. Sep 2011

Anne Midgette writes for The Washington Post "In the aria in the final scene, when the character is lapsing in and out of madness, she sat back and let her signature limpid, round, melting tone pour out. The audience rewarded her with a deserved ovation, and the singer acknowledged their applause with a smile."
Opera review: ‘Anna Bolena’ at Metropolitan Opera | By Anne Midgette | The Washinton Post | 28. Sep 2011

Howard Kissel writes for the Huffington Post "There is only one reason even to consider mounting it -- a spectacular dramatic soprano. And the Met has one in Anna Netrebko. It is a score with a huge range and many treacheries, but at no point did the fearless Netrebko give any indication that there were difficulties. Her voice was sure and luminous throughout and at its most radiant in the dramatic outbursts. In a break with tradition Netrebko gets a solo call when the final curtain falls. The house went wild. There was an impression of almost girlish joyousness on her face as she realized what she had achieved." 
Anna Bolena | By Howard Kissel | Huffington Post | 28. Sep 2011

Joe Dziemianowicz writes for the NY Daily News "Netrebko's voice was ripe, graceful and full-bodied. She was at her strongest when Anna's grip on reality was at its weakest. An 11th-hour aria in which a delirious Anna recalls happier times brought such thunderous applause that Netrebko seemed to break character and flashed a smile. No matter. This diva had earned it."
Metropolitan Oprera 'Anna Bolena' star Anna Netrebko has a voice to die for | By Joe Dziemianowicz | NY Daily News | 29. Sep 2011

As it can be seen in the selected reviews shown above, most of the critics pointed out and several ones were not amused with the fact that Anna Netrebko slightly wroke the character flashing a smile at the end of her famous, difficult and wonderfully sung aria Al dolce guidami in the final scene of the opera. This issue has been masterfully addressed by Zachary Woolfe in his article Grin and Bear It: Why Anna Netrebko's Smile Got the Critics Riled published on the New York Observer on 5. October 2011. Mr Woolfe collects some of the comments made by reviewers and gives a short history of breaking character on stage.
Grin and Bear It: Why Anna Netrebko's Smile Got the Critics Riled | By Zachary Woolfe | The New York Observer | 5. Oct 2011

Jill Krementz covers the Opening Night Gala Premiere for the New York Social Diary. Check out also the magnificent blog JS Julie Skarratt Photograpy.

A short TV coverage of the Openeing Night can be seen at the NY1 channel.

A video excerpt of the 1. Act's finale can be seen at the Anna Bolena Videos of the Met website.

A video excerpt with Anna Netrebko singing "coppia iniqua", the last scene of Anna Bolena, filmed during a rehearsal at the Met, can be seen at the Video Library of the New York Times.

Donizetti's Anna Bolena, starring Anna Netrebko in the title role, runs at the Met through 18. October 2011, with two additional performances on 1. February and 4. February 2012. The performance on 15. October 2011 will be transmitted live to movie theaters around the world, including Russia, Israel and China for first time ever, within the Met: Live in HD program.

PHOTOS
Check out the pictures of the Anna Bolena Met's official photo album

METROPOLITAN OPERA VIDEO EXCERPTS
Anna Netrebko sings the title role in this Act I excerpt from Donizetti's "Anna Bolena" at Opening Night of the Met's 2011-12 Season. Video courtesy of The Metropolitan Opera.

TV NEWS
Anna Netrebko as Anna Bolena at the NTV news


AUDIO EXCERPTS
"Come innocente giovane" [5:67] - Anna Bolena, Met, NYC 26. Sep 2011


"Giudici! ad Anna" [03:27] - Anna Bolena, Met, NYC 26. Sep 2011

"Piangete Voi?...Al dolce guidami...Coppia Iniqua" [22:36] - Anna Bolena, Met, NYC 26. Sep 2011

Anna Netrebko opens tonight the Met's 2011-2012 season making her Met role debut as Anna Bolena

Anna Netrebko opens tonight the Met's 2011-2012 season making her Met role debut in the title role of Donizetti's "Anna Bolena" in a production by David McVicar, conducted by Marco Armilato. The cast features Ekaterina Gubanova as Jane Seymour, Ildar Abdrazakov as Henry VIII and Stephen Costello as Lord Percy.


ANNA BOLENA
Music by Gaetano Donizetti
Text by Felici Romani

Met's 2011-2012 Season Opening Night, Met, NYC 26. Sep 2011

CAST
Conductor: Marco Armiliato
Anna Bolena: Anna Netrebko
Giovanna Seymour: Ekaterina Gubanova
Smeton: Tamara Mumford
Lord Riccardo Percy: Stephen Costello
Enrico VIII: Ildar Abdrazakov
Lord Rochefort: Keith Miller
Sir Hervey: Eduardo Valdes

THE PRODUCTION TEAM
Production: David McVicar
Set Designer: Robert Jones
Costume Designer: Jenny Tiramani
Lighting Designer: Paule Constable
Choreographer: Andrew George

EXPERIENCE OPENING NIGHT AT THE MET
If you are not able to attend live the show at the Met, there are several ways to experience opening night.

For the sixth straight year, Opening Night will be transmitted live to multiple giant screens in Times Square. Approximately 2,000 seats will be available on a first come, first served basis, with additional standing room provided. Pre-show coverage, including red-carpet interviews hosted by Deborah Voigt, starts at 6pm EST.

The performance will also be shown on a screen on the Met façade, with approximately 3,000 seats available on Lincoln Center’s Josie Robertson Plaza. Pre-show coverage, including red-carpet interviews, starts at 6pm EST. Free tickets, with a limit of two per person, will be distributed at the Met box office beginning Sunday, September 25, at noon.

The Opening Night Gala will be broadcast live on Metropolitan Opera Radio on SiriusXM and streamed live on the Met’s website. Both transmissions feature pre-show coverage, starting at 6pm EST.

ANNA BOLENA PERFORMANCES AT THE MET STARRING ANNA NETREBKO
Performances of Anna Bolena at the Met starring Anna Netrebko will take place in two runs. A first run of 7 performances, from 26. September to 18. October, and a second run of 2 performances on 1. and 4. February 2012.

Anna Bolena, 2011-2012 Season Opening Night Gala Premiere, Met, New Yor 26. Sep 2011 – Anna Netrebkoª (Anna Bolena), Ekaterina Gubanova (Giovanna Seymour), Stephen Costelloª (Lord Riccardo Percy), Ildar Abdrazakovª (Enrico VIII), Tamara Mumfordª (Smeton), Keith Miller (Lord Rochefort), Eduardo Valdes (Sir Hervey); David McVicarª (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera Houseª, Marco Armiliatoª [Sirius/XM Radio Broadcast][Met live webstream]  

Anna Bolena, Met, New York 30. Sep 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Anna Bolena), Ekaterina Gubanova (Giovanna Seymour), Stephen Costello (Lord Riccardo Percy), Ildar Abdrazakov (Enrico VIII), Tamara Mumford (Smeton), Keith Miller (Lord Rochefort), Eduardo Valdes (Sir Hervey); David McVicar (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, Marco Armiliato  

Anna Bolena, Met, New York 3. Oct 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Anna Bolena), Ekaterina Gubanova (Giovanna Seymour), Stephen Costello (Lord Riccardo Percy), Ildar Abdrazakov (Enrico VIII), Tamara Mumford (Smeton), NN (Lord Rochefort), NN (Sir Hervey); David McVicar (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, Marco Armiliato [Sirius/XM Radio Broadcast] 

Anna Bolena, Met, New York 6. Oct 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Anna Bolena), Ekaterina Gubanova (Giovanna Seymour), Stephen Costello (Lord Riccardo Percy), Ildar Abdrazakov (Enrico VIII), Tamara Mumford (Smeton), NN (Lord Rochefort), NN (Sir Hervey); David McVicar (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, Marco Armiliato  

Anna Bolena, Met, New York 10. Oct 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Anna Bolena), Ekaterina Gubanova (Giovanna Seymour), Stephen Costello (Lord Riccardo Percy), Ildar Abdrazakov (Enrico VIII), Tamara Mumford (Smeton), NN (Lord Rochefort), NN (Sir Hervey); David McVicar (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, Marco Armiliato [Sirius/XM Radio Broadcast]  

Anna Bolena, Met, New York 15. Oct 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Anna Bolena), Ekaterina Gubanova (Giovanna Seymour), Stephen Costello (Lord Riccardo Percy), Ildar Abdrazakov (Enrico VIII), Tamara Mumford (Smeton), NN (Lord Rochefort), NN (Sir Hervey); David McVicar (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, Marco Armiliato [The Met: Live in HD]  

Anna Bolena, Met, New York 18. Oct 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Anna Bolena), Ekaterina Gubanova (Giovanna Seymour), Stephen Costello (Lord Riccardo Percy), Ildar Abdrazakov (Enrico VIII), Tamara Mumford (Smeton), NN (Lord Rochefort), NN (Sir Hervey); David McVicar (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, Marco Armiliato 

Anna Bolena, Met, New York 1. Feb 2012 – Anna Netrebko (Anna Bolena), Elina Garanca (Giovanna Seymour), Stephen Costello (Lord Riccardo Percy), Ildar Abdrazakov (Enrico VIII), Tamara Mumford (Smeton), NN (Lord Rochefort), NN (Sir Hervey); David McVicar (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, Marco Armiliato 

Anna Bolena, Met, New York 4. Feb 2012 – Anna Netrebko (Anna Bolena), Elina Garanca (Giovanna Seymour), Stephen Costello (Lord Riccardo Percy), Ildar Abdrazakov (Enrico VIII), Tamara Mumford (Smeton), NN (Lord Rochefort), NN (Sir Hervey); David McVicar (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, Marco Armiliato [Met Saturday Matinee Broadcasts]

ANNA BOLENA LIVE BROADCASTS FROM THE MET
Different performances of the run will be broadcast live on Sirius/XM, through the Saturday Matinee Broadcast series, streamed live on the Met website or transmitted live to movie theaters around the world, within the Met: Live in HD series. The broadcast's schedule is as follows:

Anna Bolena, 2011-2012 Season Opening Night Gala Premiere, Met, New Yor 26. Sep 2011 – Anna Netrebkoª (Anna Bolena), Ekaterina Gubanova (Giovanna Seymour), Stephen Costelloª (Lord Riccardo Percy), Ildar Abdrazakovª (Enrico VIII), Tamara Mumfordª (Smeton), Keith Miller (Lord Rochefort), Eduardo Valdes (Sir Hervey); David McVicarª (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera Houseª, Marco Armiliatoª [Sirius/XM Radio Broadcast][Met live webstream]  

Anna Bolena, Met, New York 3. Oct 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Anna Bolena), Ekaterina Gubanova (Giovanna Seymour), Stephen Costello (Lord Riccardo Percy), Ildar Abdrazakov (Enrico VIII), Tamara Mumford (Smeton), NN (Lord Rochefort), NN (Sir Hervey); David McVicar (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, Marco Armiliato [Sirius/XM Radio Broadcast]  

Anna Bolena, Met, New York 10. Oct 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Anna Bolena), Ekaterina Gubanova (Giovanna Seymour), Stephen Costello (Lord Riccardo Percy), Ildar Abdrazakov (Enrico VIII), Tamara Mumford (Smeton), NN (Lord Rochefort), NN (Sir Hervey); David McVicar (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, Marco Armiliato [Sirius/XM Radio Broadcast]  

Anna Bolena, Met, New York 15. Oct 2011 – Anna Netrebko (Anna Bolena), Elina Garanca (Giovanna Seymour), Stephen Costello (Lord Riccardo Percy), Ildar Abdrazakov (Enrico VIII), Tamara Mumford (Smeton), NN (Lord Rochefort), NN (Sir Hervey); David McVicar (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, Marco Armiliato [The Met: Live in HD] 

Anna Bolena, Met, New York 4. Feb 2012 – Anna Netrebko (Anna Bolena), Elina Garanca (Giovanna Seymour), Stephen Costello (Lord Riccardo Percy), Ildar Abdrazakov (Enrico VIII), Tamara Mumford (Smeton), NN (Lord Rochefort), NN (Sir Hervey); David McVicar (Director), Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera House, Marco Armiliato [Met Saturday Matinee Broadcasts]

ANNA NETREBKO ROLE DEBUT AS ANNA BOLENA
Anna Netrebko made her outstanding worlwide debut as Anna Bolena on 2. April 2011 at the Wiener Staatsoper. Deutsche Grammophon will release a live video recording of those performances. A 2 DVD video will be internationally released on 14. October 2011 and the Blu-Ray disc version will be released on 4. November 2011.

Deutsche Grammophon releases the live video recording of Donizetti's "Anna Bolena" at the Wiener Staatsoper

The live video recording of Donizetti's "Anna Bolena" at the Wiener Staatsoper, starring Anna Netrebko in the title role, Elina Garanca as Jane Seymour, Ildebrando d'Arcangelo as Henry VIII, Francesco Meli as Lord Percy and Elisabeth Kulman as Smeton, will be released by Deutsche Grammophon as DVD ( 2 DVD) on 14. Oct 2011 and as Blu-Ray (1 Blu-Ray Disc) on 4. Nov 2011.

Anna Netrebko at The Greene Space on 4. Oct 2011

Anna Netrebko will be at The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space on Tuesday, 4. October at 7 PM for a very special Metropolitan Opera live event, hosted by Naomi Lewin.

Met General Manager Peter Gelb will preview the season in conversation with Anna Netrebko and Deborah Voigt. Video highlights from the season-opening performance of Donizetti’s "Anna Bolena" featuring Anna Netrebko in the title role as well as footage from Wagner's "Die Walkure" featuring Deborah Voigt as Brünnhilde, will be presented.

The evening concludes with live performances by three up-and-coming Met stars – soprano Angela Meade and tenor Stephen Costello in “S’ei t’abborre, io t’amo ancora” from Anna Bolena, and bass-baritone Luca Pisaroni in “Madamina, il catalago è questo” from Mozart’s "Don Giovanni".

Tickets for general public cost US$ 25.

Dress Rehearsal, Anna Bolena, Met, NYC 22. Sep 2011

The Metropolitan Opera’s sixth season of free open dress rehearsals has begun on 22. September with the company premiere of Donizetti’s Anna Bolena, starring Anna Netrebko in the title role. The production, which opens the Met’s 2011-12 season on 26. September, is directed by David McVicar and conducted by Marco Armiliato. The cast also stars Ekaterina Gubanova as Jane Seymour, Ildar Abdrazakov as Henry VIII, Stephen Costello as Lord Riccardo Percy and Tamara Mumford as Smeton.

The 2,500 free tickets, limited to two per person, have been distributed through an online drawing held on the Met’s website.



ANNA BOLENA
Music by Gaetano Donizetti
Text by Felici Romani

Dress Rehearsal, Met, NYC 22. Sep 2011

CAST
Conductor: Marco Armiliato
Anna Bolena: Anna Netrebko
Giovanna Seymour: Ekaterina Gubanova
Smeton: Tamara Mumford
Lord Riccardo Percy: Stephen Costello
Enrico VIII: Ildar Abdrazakov

THE PRODUCTION TEAM
Production: David McVicar
Set Designer: Robert Jones
Costume Designer: Jenny Tiramani
Lighting Designer: Paule Constable
Choreographer: Andrew George

REPORTS
Howard's wife, Paula, attended the show and sent a message to her husband at the intermission. Howard shared Paula's impressions with us:

"She was so impressed with costumes, lighting and staging but emphasized that singing was simply glorious. Costello is wonderful as was rest of cast. She said that this was Anna's new defining moment."

John also attended the show and said:

"I was very fortunate to attend the dress rehersal for Anna Bolena today at the Met. In spite of a stage elevator glitch the performance was one of the best I have ever seen. Well done to the cast and crew of the Met and to the generous benefactors who make it happen. I enjoyed Anna's performance most of all, she owns this role. I have tickets to a performance of Anna Bolena later in the season. I can't wait to see her perform the role again." 

Check La Cieca's Blog Parterre Box for more reports.

VIDEO
"Coppia Iniqua" - Anna Bolena, Met, NYC 22. Sep 2011

Happy Birthday, Anna !!! · С днем рождения, Анна !!! · ¡¡¡ Feliz Cumpleaños, Anna !!!

Happy Birthday, Anna !!! 
С днем рождения, Анна !!! 
¡¡¡ Feliz Cumpleaños, Anna !!!

Anna Netrebko at the Triangel, Salzburg 15. Aug 2011, after the Generalprobe for Iolanta. Photo: Herbert

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TIAGO !!!

We wish a very Happy, Happy Birthday to Tiago in his third anniversary !!!

Have a wonderful day !!!