Anna Netrebko facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Anna Netrebko
Анна Нетребко
Netrebko at the 2013 Romy Award Gala
Born	(1971-09-18) 18 September 1971 (age 53) Krasnodar, Soviet Union
Citizenship	Russia Austria
Alma mater	Saint Petersburg Conservatory
Occupation	Operatic soprano
Years active	1993–present
Partner(s)	Simone Alberghini (1999–2007) Erwin Schrott (2007–2013) Yusif Eyvazov [de] (2014–2024)
Children	1
Awards	State Prize of the Russian Federation People's Artist of Russia Kammersängerin

Anna Yuryevna Netrebko (Russian: Анна Юрьевна Нетребко; born September 18, 1971) is a famous Russian opera singer. She is known for her powerful and beautiful voice, called a soprano. Anna has performed in many of the world's most famous opera houses, like the Metropolitan Opera in New York and La Scala in Milan.

She is one of the few Russian performers to become very successful around the world. Anna started her career at the Mariinsky Theatre in Russia. She became globally famous after a performance at the Salzburg Festival in 2002. At first, she sang lighter opera roles, but later she moved on to more dramatic and powerful characters. Since 2016, she has focused on a style of opera called verismo, which means "realism."

Anna Netrebko has won many awards for her singing. She was named a People's Artist of Russia in 2008. In 2007, Time 100 magazine included her on their list of the most influential people.

Early Life and Training

Anna Netrebko was born in Krasnodar, a city in Russia. When she was a student at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory, she worked as a janitor at the Mariinsky Theatre. Later, when she auditioned to sing there, the conductor Valery Gergiev recognized her. He then became her singing teacher and helped her a lot.

Anna's Opera Career

Starting Out (1994–2001)

Anna Netrebko made her first opera stage appearance in 1994. She was 22 years old and sang in The Marriage of Figaro at the Mariinsky Theatre. That same year, she also performed in The Magic Flute. She quickly became a regular singer at the Mariinsky Theatre.

In 1995, Anna performed in the United States for the first time. She sang in San Francisco and became a frequent guest singer there. She performed in many operas, including L'elisir d'amore and La bohème. In 1998, she made her debut at the Salzburg Festival. She also sang her first main role in Verdi's La traviata that year.

Becoming Famous (2002–2010)

Anna Netrebko made her debut with the Metropolitan Opera in New York in 2002. Her big international breakthrough came in August 2002. She sang the role of Donna Anna in Mozart's Don Giovanni at the Salzburg Festival. This performance made her very well-known around the world.

She then performed at the Royal Opera in London and the Washington National Opera. In 2003, she sang in Vienna and Munich for the first time. She also made her debut in Los Angeles with Lucia di Lammermoor.

In 2005, Anna starred in a new production of La traviata in Salzburg. She also sang in Rigoletto at the Metropolitan Opera. In 2006, she performed in a new production of The Marriage of Figaro in Salzburg.

In 2007, Anna sang in I puritani at the Metropolitan Opera. She also performed at Carnegie Hall in New York. Later that year, she sang at the Last Night of the Proms in London, a very famous concert.

Anna Netrebko and Vladimir Putin at the Mariinsky Theatre after she received the honorary title of People's Artist of Russia in 2008

In 2008, she sang Violetta in La traviata at the Royal Opera House in London. She also made her debut at the Paris Opera. After having her son, she returned to the stage in 2009. She sang Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor in Russia and New York.

In 2010, Anna performed in Vienna, London, and New York. She sang in operas like La bohème and Manon.

Taking on Bigger Roles (2011–2022)

Anna Netrebko as Leonora in Il trovatore at the Salzburg Festival in 2014

In 2011, Anna sang the main role in Anna Bolena at the Vienna State Opera. This performance was shown live in cinemas around the world. She also made her debut at La Scala in Milan. She was invited to open three new seasons in a row at the Metropolitan Opera.

Her voice continued to grow, allowing her to sing more challenging roles. In 2014, she sang Lady Macbeth in Macbeth at the Met, which critics praised. The next year, she sang Leonora in Il trovatore, also at the Met.

In 2013, she performed at the opening of the new Mariinsky Theatre stage. She also sang the Olympic Anthem at the 2014 Winter Olympics opening ceremony.

In 2016, Anna decided not to perform in Norma because her voice was changing. She then debuted as Elsa in Lohengrin in Germany and Russia.

In 2017, she took on several new roles. These included the main parts in Adriana Lecouvreur and Aida. She also sang Maddalena in Andrea Chénier. In 2018, she debuted as Tosca at the Metropolitan Opera.

Anna performed at the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. She also opened the 2019 Vienna Opera Ball.

In 2020, Anna performed in concerts after the first COVID-19 lockdown. She later had to be hospitalized for COVID-19-related pneumonia.

Recent Career and Challenges

In February 2022, after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Anna Netrebko spoke out against the war. However, some opera houses put pressure on her to speak more strongly against Russian President Vladimir Putin. On March 1, 2022, she announced she would stop performing for a while. Several opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, cancelled her upcoming shows.

On March 30, 2022, Anna released another statement. She again condemned the war in Ukraine and said she was not allied with any Russian leader. She explained that she had only met President Putin a few times for awards or events. She stated she lives and pays taxes in Austria and receives no financial support from the Russian government. She announced she would start performing again in May 2022.

After her second statement, some people in Russia called her a "traitor." Her performances in Russia were cancelled. In March 2023, a decision was made that the Metropolitan Opera had to pay her for cancelled performances. However, she also had to pay a penalty for some statements she made.

Later Career

In April 2022, Anna Netrebko performed in Manon Lescaut in Monaco. Her solo concerts in May 2022 in Paris and Milan were very successful. During the summer of 2022, she sang in Aida and Turandot at the Verona Arena in Italy. In September 2022, she opened the season at the Vienna State Opera.

In June 2023, she opened the 100th Arena di Verona Festival as Aida. She also performed at the Roman Theatre of Orange in France. In May 2024, Anna performed in Puccini's Turandot in Germany. Critics praised her strong voice and acting.

Using Face-Darkening Makeup

Anna Netrebko has sometimes used face-darkening makeup when playing the character Aida. Aida is an Ethiopian princess in the opera Aida. This practice has caused discussion, especially at the Salzburg Festival in 2017 and the Metropolitan Opera in 2018. The Metropolitan Opera had said in 2015 that it would stop using such makeup.

In July 2022, Anna Netrebko and the Arena di Verona Festival faced criticism for using face-darkening makeup in Aida. American singer Angel Blue cancelled her performances at the Festival because of this. She disagreed with the company's choice to continue the practice. This led to a big discussion among opera singers. Some singers, like Jamie Barton, spoke out against the use of face-darkening makeup.

The Arena di Verona Festival said it was difficult to change their 2002 production of Aida to avoid using the makeup.

Other Activities

Anna Netrebko helps with charity work. She is an honorary director of the Russian Children's Welfare Society. She has also supported SOS Children's Villages in Austria. In 2012, she and her former partner, Erwin Schrott, started a charity foundation. It aimed to support education, art, and youth.

Anna Netrebko also made a small appearance as herself in the 2004 movie The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement.

Political Views and Connections

There has been discussion about Anna Netrebko's connection with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In 2012, she appeared on a list of celebrities who supported Putin in an election. She later said this was to show thanks for his support of the arts. She has stated that she did not sign a similar declaration in 2018 and that her name was used without her permission.

In December 2014, she gave money to the Donetsk Opera and Ballet Theatre in Ukraine. She was photographed with a flag of Novorossiya, a self-declared region in Ukraine. Anna said her donation was not a political act.

After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Anna Netrebko spoke against the war. She also said she disagreed with people who forced her to share her political opinions. After she repeated her condemnation of the war in March 2022, some in Russia called her a "traitor." Since January 2023, she has been among the public figures sanctioned by the government of Ukraine.

In May 2025, some people protested outside the Berlin State Opera because of Anna Netrebko's past ties to the Kremlin.

Personal Life

Anna Netrebko became an Austrian citizen in 2006. She said she did this because it was difficult to get visas as a Russian citizen for her many performances abroad.

In 1999, Anna started a relationship with Italian singer Simone Alberghini. They were engaged but did not marry. Their relationship ended in 2007.

In December 2007, Anna became engaged to Uruguayan singer Erwin Schrott. Their son, Tiago Aruã, was born in Vienna in September 2008. They announced their separation in November 2013.

In February 2014, Anna started a relationship with Azerbaijani singer Yusif Eyvazov [de]. They were performing together in an opera in Rome. They announced their engagement five months later. They got married in Vienna on December 29, 2015. Many guests attended their wedding celebration, including famous singer Plácido Domingo. Anna announced their separation in June 2024.

Anna Netrebko has homes in Saint Petersburg, Vienna, and New York City.

Awards and Honors

Music Awards

Anna Netrebko has won many awards for her singing. She received the Bambi Award in 2006. She was named "Singer of the Year" in 2007 and "Female Artist of Year" in 2008 at the Classic Brit Awards. The magazine Musical America called her a "genuine superstar for the 21st century."

She won "Female Singer of the Year" at the Echo Klassik Award in 2014 and 2016. She also won "Best Vocalist in Classical Music" at the Russian National Music Awards several times. In 2017, she won "Best Female Singer" at the International Opera Awards. In 2020, she received the Swedish Polar Music Prize.

In September 2022, she won an "Österreichischer Musiktheaterpreis" for her role as Lady Macbeth.

State Honors and Other Awards

In 2004, Anna Netrebko received the State Prize of the Russian Federation. In 2008, she was named People's Artist of Russia. The Austrian government named her Kammersängerin in 2017. In May 2018, she received the Order of Friendship from the President of Azerbaijan.

On her 50th birthday in September 2021, Anna Netrebko had a concert in Moscow. Many famous friends and singers performed with her.

An asteroid, 31104 Annanetrebko, was named in her honor.

Opera Roles

Images for kids

• 

  Anna Netrebko at the 2013 Romy Award Gala

• 

  Anna Netrebko and Vladimir Putin at the Mariinsky Theatre in 2008

• 

  Anna Netrebko as Leonora in Il trovatore at the Salzburg Festival in 2014

• 

  Anna Netrebko and Vladimir Putin in 2004

• İlham Əliyev ümummilli lider Heydər Əliyevin anadan olmasının 96-cı ildönümünə və Heydər Əliyev Fondunun yaradılmasının 15 illiyinə həsr olunmuş təntəli mərasimdə iştirak edib.jpg

  Anna Netrebko with her husband Yusif Eyvazov and Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev in May 2019

See also

In Spanish: Anna Netrebko para niños