This Ravishing Diva is a Ten
I wanted to play an opera on my new home theater system. But the only ones available in Blu-ray (according to hbdirect.com) listed a host of unfamiliar singers. I was unsure what to do until I heard and saw Anna Netrebko on a YouTube link that someone in the AARP on-line community sent to me yesterday. I will always be indebted to my anonymous friend. I was instantly wowed by Netrebko's luxurious voice-perfect for Puccini's O Mio Babbino Caro- enticed by her seductively playful moves, especially in the Act 1 bedroom scene from Manon, and riveted by her existential apprehensiveness in "E Strano" from La Traviata. Once more rummaging through the Blu-ray catalogue, I found two complete operas featuring Anna Netrebko: La Boheme and La Traviata. Having the incomparable Rolando Villazon (another superstar I familiarized myself with through YouTube) as main male singer in both of these operas is another tremendous plus. More good news: both discs are available from Netflix. Considering the relative poor AV quality of the YouTube selections, I can't wait to get a chance to see and hear Netrebko on my 55" Led Samsung with Bose Surround Sound. I never thought I'd feel this way, but Leontyne Price, whose ravishing voice I have always adored, may have to share some space on her pedestal with Anna Netrebko.

Not too long ago Anna Netrebko did a concert in Germany where she sang an aria as/from Juditta(Meine lippen sie kuessen so Heiss) by Franz Lehar. In the midst of it all she kicked off her shoes on stage and danced like a gypsy, flirted with the audience, threw flowers to select men in the front rows and then ran her fingers through the hair of the first violinist(lucky guy)...

Btw, here is a Youtube vid of that aria:

 

That is her signature encore piece with all the same flirting. You can also see it from on YouTube from a Proms concert.

 

The concert featuring her antics and much more are on Netflix.

 

Amen! Netrebko is one of our great contemporary operatic superstars in every respect.

 

Do you think that her voice is lackluster? I find it luscious.

 

If ever a word was misused to describe Netrebko's voice, it is "lackluster." Who said that? It's a laugh and a half!!
(maybe they just didn't know how to spell the word "luscious!")

 

i would recommend the early works such as in Ruslan And Ludmila (1995 Maryinsky production) where she was best at artistry compared to now that she lost it with productions like the Met's etc. -

 

This was Anna's finest moment in my opinion.

N.

 

Yes, Anna can't really sing coloratura arias (though she constantly tries to). She butchered Violeta's role from Traviata...but she is a very good entertainer, by no means. She is a star and so Katherin Jankings is too. Beautiful women coupled with some nice voice and tons of charisma are marketed like crazy for easy money...Other than that there are many other living sopranos with better voices/technique and some are more beautiful. But, deh beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

 

Yes, Anna can't really sing coloratura arias (though she constantly tries to). She butchered Violeta's role from Traviata...but she is a very good entertainer, by no means. She is a star and so Katherin Jankings is too. Beautiful women coupled with some nice voice and tons of charisma are marketed like crazy for easy money...Other than that there are many other living sopranos with better voices/technique and some are more beautiful. But, deh beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

that's my biggest beef with her.

 

most interesting is how she and Villazon managed to pull it off with that dubious Salzburg La Traviata production which, instead of being shameful for the both, turned out to be their triumph... but i have to admit, the stage director had produced it so that, despite being 'contemporary' in the worst sense, the goings-on still perfectly followed the score in terms of rhythm and music, maybe even better than any of the productions known to date.

 

How delicious it is to have a luscious voice tucked into a stage animal and a beautiful face to match.

 

Could you be more specific in your damning critique of Anna? Beauty aside, and she is losing much of it as she gains more weight, her voice is as stunning as ever. Of course, I'm no expert.

 

She is a bit overweight but she is not fat enough for her beauty to loose.
I can say that I don´t feel much joy listening to Anna Netrebko comparing to many other singers.

 

She is vulgar, she is arrogant and she has no idea what she sings about. Now and then she tries repertoire which is far beyond her abilities, such as Vier Letzte Lieder. Mechanical singing bird in best case. Formerly, before she start becoming a fat joke.

 

There are some surprisingly nasty remarks here. I've never found Netrebko an interesting singer - I heard a "Si, mi chiamano Mimi" that was a complete yawner - but she's done a very nice Russian album. She has a fine voice with a rich tone, albeit some limitations in flexibility. And of course she's great-looking. Her acting can be quite decent. In me she inspires extreme...

moderation.

 

It is interesting to observe just how often discussions of female singers gets into appearance, something that never happens with men. What do her looks have to do with anything at all? Perhaps her weight affects her vocal production but if so, given discussions about other singers, that should be a positive thing.

 

Except when it is about Jonas K.

 

I don't know enough about voices to comment on how Anna N. compares with others. As to looks, I also don't particularly care whether she is fat, skinny, pretty, ugly, etc. Except that she has definitely sold herself as a sex symbol - look at the covers of her numerous albums. To bank so much on that, and then given her rather meteoric rise in weight is quite unfortunate.

 

I don't know enough about voices to comment on how Anna N. compares with others.

But can you decide what you personally think sounds good or not?

 

singing while pregnant and dancing at that -

PS: love Kalman operas, especially Die Csárdásfürstin.

 

Face it. It is what it is today. Everyone is so taken with the physical form (it IS show biz after all) that any added avoirdupois is looked askance upon. Of course, truth to tell, it's the voice first and foremost but if all of that is in the right place, a nice physical appearance certainly doesn't hurt in the casting department.

 

Face it. It is what it is today. Everyone is so taken with the physical form (it IS show biz after all) that any added avoirdupois is looked askance upon. Of course, truth to tell, it's the voice first and foremost but if all of that is in the right place, a nice physical appearance certainly doesn't hurt in the casting department.

Everyone? EVERYone?

No - not EVERYone - there has always been a number of enthusiasts who have enjoyed singers for their ability to sing - have a listen to Luisa Tetrazzini - have a listen before looking at a picture of her, for instance.

 

Barbara Hannigan is an infinitely better soprano.

 

Earlier Anna:

Larger Anna:

She may still be an attractive large woman, but like I said - the current Anna wouldn't get as many hits on YouTube frolicking on a bed in a neglige.

 

By

Earlier Anna:
View attachment 71490
Larger Anna:
View attachment 71491

She may still be an attractive large woman, but like I said - the current Anna wouldn't get as many hits on YouTube frolicking on a bed in a neglige.

Callas in reverse!

 

I was even kind - I didn't post one of her even earlier photos, where she was even skinnier.

In all fairness, she is older now, and metabolism slows down. And she has had a child. Her weight is her own concern. But, as they say - live by the sword, die by the sword. While her voice is certainly her main selling point, her beauty and sexuality were also major marketing strategies for her, from frolicking in a neglige, to flirting barefoot, she was selling her voice AND her body (not in the prostitution sense).

 

I was even kind - I didn't post one of her even earlier photos, where she was even skinnier.

i had already posted two vids on here, one shows her skinny and the other - fat (almost 20 years later) so there was no need to bother with posting photos.

 

Anna is a banana with heavier roles. Her Verdi album wasn't very good and my dad winced when he heard it.

 

I like Netrebko. Of course she is nowhere near singers like Callas, but she is pretty good. I really liked her with Alagna on Romeo et Juliette in the 2007 Met performance. I have no issues on her weight. Unless of course she ends up ridiculously overweight and then she herself should worry too

 

Callas was perhaps the most expressive diva ever, but her shrill voice never appealed to me. Netrebko's voice is much more melodious. If it's between the mockingbird or the crow, I'll usually choose the mockingbird.

 

Question is whether she is a legendary singer or not?

 

Anna still looks mighty fine to me, and she continues to be well reviewed by critics who have no reason to be kind to her.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/06/arts/after-anna-netrebkos-macbeth-triumph-norma-is-next.html

Along with other major performers (you know the names) I'm glad she is a part of our opera world. One of us, so to speak.

 

Anna still looks mighty fine to me, and she continues to be well reviewed by critics who have no reason to be kind to her.

Agreed. She is a woman in her mid-40's, raising a semi-autistic child on her own while maintaining a grueling international schedule. I think she is doing all right. I know it wasn't to everyone's taste, but I greatly enjoyed her Lady Macbeth last year, and she was the saving grace in the Salzburg Trovatore.

Did anyone really expect her to get more attractive than this?

 

She's not always the most careful vocal technician, but Anna Netrebko's voice is, quite simply, one of the most exciting soprano voices I have ever heard. I've never been disappointed by the sound of it. One might say that it lacks a "softer" quality; however I personally have always preferred operatic voices to be slightly steely rather than too soft-grained, so it's more than okay with me. The performances of hers that I've watched (on video) have been meticulously acted if not always the most moving -- for example, I was more touched by Renee Fleming's Tatiana in EUGENE ONEGIN than by Anna's, even though Anna's acting was probably better detail-wise.

 

I've just watched Anna in L'elixir d'Amore. Younger version of course. She is terrific! What do some of you guys want - blood? :lol: