As a Voice major, I find it befitting to take my stance in this blog about all things Russian to introduce important Russian opera singers.



For this unit, I've chosen Anna Netrebko. Having a world-class voice and now recognized as a renowned opera star, she was discovered while cleaning the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg as a means to pay for her schooling! As talented aesthetically as she is vocally, Anna Netrebko is responsible for the widespread growth of opera, inspiring new listeners who were otherwise not interested in opera. She is now a pop culture icon featured in articles in magazines such as Playboy. Enjoy a sample of her singing this aria from Giuseppe Verdi's La Traviata entitled "Sempre Libera." This is a modern, minimalist production from the Salzburg Festival in 2006:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSPK7Ayuw3s

Also, check out her website:

http://annanetrebko.com/