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Anna Netrebko
We yearn for a candid interviewee, who will spill the beans about garlicky tenor's breath and the "microphone between her tits," so we were beyond ourselves to score a phone call with her. But so much for the unadulterated heart-to-heart conversation, her US team is a bit more protective than her UK guys, and our conversation was moderated. "We're in a car driving approximately 250 mph...it would be very exhausting for Anna to do this," said one chaperon, worried about the can you hear me now? quality of the connection (troublesome here as well). Or "I don't think this is a question she should answer," another one stopped us. Why not? "It's because I don't think that she knows, and I don't think she should comment on." We had asked about the consequences of belt tightening at the opera house. "I probably don't know," Anna chimed. Lucky her.
We had stuck to the script thus far, asking about her memories from her years in the Merola program in San Francisco, this summer long training course for aspiring opera stars. She explains, "The theater is very special for me," she said, "the city and the theater. It was my first coming out of Russia, I was very young, it was my first big success. And fantastic year of spending there, studying and singing, wonderful audience. I'm very very happy to be back there, finally," Also, we have to point out, we found her Russian-accented English downright adorable.
Maestro Donald Runnicles ends his term as music director after this run of La Traviata, is she proud to be part of that? We have a fantastic relationship with Donald, and I know him for all these years, he has been so wonderful and helpful and it's nice to work together.
Nine months ago, she gave birth to a baby, Tiago, who came with her to SF. Did that affect her voice? Well, I definitely, my voice is three times bigger than it was before," she laughs. "Honestly, I don't know if it's because of the baby, or age, or singing, it is getting larger. I think it's normal for older singers, it's nothing strange about it," she reassured us.
How difficult is it to juggle being the reigning diva of the 21st century and motherhood? Today, that is in mid-May, for the first time, I left my baby at home for two days, I'm not feeling very well about that. I'm worried of course. I have to travel a lot, unfortunately. This is my life, I will somehow make it. There are a lot of opera singers who can make it also, it's fine, I think I can do it too.
Violetta, her role in La Traviata, she says, "is a wonderful role, it's a dream for any soprano to sing it." But what attracts her personally to the role? "Exactly what I'm saying to you! Because this role has everything, whatever you can dream of. It's plenty of singing, it's very difficult to sing, it's beautiful, gorgeous music, it's a wonderful story, and for me as an actress it's wonderful to portray that. It's a big challenge as well. But I'm really really enjoying so much to perform this.
La Traviata opens Saturday, at 8pm. Other performances on Tue Jun 18, 8 pm, Fri Jun 19, 8 pm, Thu Jun 25, 7:30 pm, Sun Jun 28, 2 pm, Mon Jun 29, 7:30 pm, Wed Jul 1, 7:30 pm, Thu Jul 2, 7:30 pm, Sun Jul 5, 2 pm. Anna Netrebko sings in the first 5 performances, Elizabeth Futral and Ailyn Perez split the other shows.
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My better half is going next week with her girlfriend.
Earlier this month, I mentioned my frustration caused by, well, gigantic sopranos in leading lady roles. From my mouth to God's, er, Gockley's ears.
But seriously, what timing. Seeing P&B next week, along witih The Tragically Hip this Sunday at the Fillmore. Can't have too much excitement in one week.
We trade. We do an opera, and then I get her to see a Skrewdriver revival band. It's fair. Too bad neither of us are "white", per se, so it takes a bit of thickening of the skin for us.
Why must they price these tickets at $250 each??!! I want to see La Traviata but $500++ for two tix is steep.
Multiply that times the number of shows I want to see each year and I would need to start selling cocaine just to afford my opera habit.
Opera is for rich people.
@RobInSF, that's all what's left on sale now? There should be some cheaper stuff, in the $30 range. There's always standing room, that is cheap.