Name: Anna Netrebko
Age: 45 years old
Place of birth: Krasnodar
Height: 173 cm
Weight: 68 kg
Activity: opera singer(soprano)
Marital status: Married
Anna Netrebko - biography
Anna Netrebko is a famous opera singer, whose popularity and fame have long gone beyond the borders of Russia. Her voice attracts many people, making them listen to her sing again and again. But besides beautiful voice, nature gave her charming appearance. So around her personal life huge amount rumors The biography of this opera singer is so interesting, because there are a huge number of blank spots in it.
Anna Netrebko - childhood
It is believed that the family where the future famous opera singer was born had its roots in the Cuban Cossacks, although Anna’s parents no longer called themselves that. She was born in Krasnodar on September 18, 1971. Anna's father worked as an engineer all his life and had nothing to do with music. The same can be said about my mother, who worked as a geologist. The girl started singing early, but no one can say where such a passion for music originated in her. She sang everywhere and loved it.
Anna Netrebko - education
When singer Anna Netrebko was still in school, unexpectedly for everyone she became a soloist of the Kuban Pioneer ensemble. This music group at that time she successfully performed at the local Palace of Pioneers. This had a great impact on future fate a young and promising singer. The girl quickly realized that she already had an innate musical talent, so she wanted to further improve and develop it.
That is why the young and singer Anna Netrebko went to Leningrad as soon as her school exams were passed. An application was submitted for admission to music school, the entrance exams were passed successfully, and Anna was soon enrolled in Tatyana Lebed’s course. But, after studying for two years without completing her studies, she left school and applied to the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory, which was located in St. Petersburg. Despite the great competition, the exams were passed successfully. This happened in 1990, and a gifted and talented girl enrolled in Tamara Novichenko’s course.
Anna Netrebko's career
New page in creative biography The singer's career begins from the moment when a charming and talented girl begins to study at the conservatory. At this time, she actively participates in all-Russian competitions held among vocalists. The first competition in which the young opera singer participated was held in Smolensk, and the chairman of the jury was Irina Arkhipova, who, having heard Anna’s performance, was amazed by her talent. Therefore, the girl easily won her first prize. This gave her confidence in her abilities and the desire to continue to strive to conquer new heights, improving her skills.
Participation in such competitions gave the future opera singer the opportunity to audition for the Mariinsky Theater, which was successful, and the girl almost immediately received her first role. She immediately surprised and captivated famous director Valery Gergiev, who gladly gave her main role in his performance. But it immediately turned out that the girl was already working in their theater, but as a cleaner. The fact that such a talent had been washing the floors of their theater for two years was a real surprise for the director.
The first debut in the biography of the opera singer took place in 1994, and this role turned out to be so successful that now viewers often saw the talented and charming Anna, who performed a variety of roles in various performances. Therefore, the fact that she became one of the leading soloists of this Mariinsky Theater was not a surprise to anyone. Soon she began touring with her theater troupe.
Performances took place not only in Russia, but also abroad. It is known that it was her performance in San Francisco that brought her special popularity and fame. The beautiful opera singer Anna Netrebko became famous and in demand at international level. The whole world is talking about a new beautiful and talented opera star.
Currently, Anna Yuryevna is among the top 10 most famous and popular Russian performers. She has many awards and medals, titles and prizes. But young and talented singer She is not going to stop there, so she will be able to surprise her listeners more than once with her wonderful creativity.
Anna Netrebko - biography of personal life
More recently, nothing was known about the personal life of the beautiful opera singer Anna Netrebko. Young and charming singer I tried not to tell anyone anything about myself. It is known that at one time the young star had whirlwind romance with dancer Nikolai Zubkovsky, but their breakup was no less violent and scandalous. As rumors claimed, Anna Yuryevna had to endure beatings from this man.
The opera singer's first marriage was with Erwin Schrott, a singer from Uruguay. They dated for a long time and only decided to get married in 2007, but this marriage broke up six years later. But a new happy streak in the biography of the young and talented Anna Yuryevna begins in 2008, when she gives birth to her son Thiago in one of the clinics in Austria. Today this is the most beloved and adored man in Anna Netrebko’s life.
There are rumors from different sources Media reports that at the end of 2015 in Vienna, Netrebko married the Azerbaijani tenor Yusif Eyvazov.
Anna Netrebko - Russian and world star opera stage. The singer performs at the best stages, collaborates with outstanding directors, and her partners are worldwide famous performers. Each performance by the artist is a bright flash of talent, incredible artistry and incessant applause from the audience.
Biography
Singer Anna Netrebko was born in Krasnodar on September 18, 1971. The love for singing manifested itself in a girl with early childhood, although her parents had nothing to do with music. While studying at school, the singer was a soloist of the Kuban Pioneer ensemble. As part of it, she performed not only in her native Krasnodar, but also traveled to other cities of the country.
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After graduating from school, the desire to become a real artist became so strong that Anna decided to go to Leningrad. She enters the music school, where T.B. becomes her first teacher. Swan. After studying for only 2 years, Netrebko left the school. She believes that she is capable of more, and here, in Leningrad, she submits documents to the conservatory. Thanks to her extraordinary vocal abilities, the girl withstands a huge competition for admission and becomes a student of Tamara Novichenko, an outstanding vocal teacher who has trained a whole galaxy of famous artists.
The year 1993 and the city of Smolensk became special for the aspiring singer. The All-Russian competition of performers revealed Anna's talent in front of a professional jury, chaired by the great Irina Arkhipova. Victory and success inspire the young artist. She receives not only confirmation of her own importance, but also a unique opportunity to demonstrate her talent at the Mariinsky Theater.
After the audition, Valery Gergiev, artistic director and director of the Mariinsky Theater, gives Netrebko the main role in the play “The Marriage of Figaro”, and the artist managed to surprise the famous conductor not only with her talent. Gergiev didn’t even suspect that for several years she had been simply cleaning up her native theater. Anna Netrebko's debut performance created a sensation. Soon the young singer's repertoire was replenished with many other performances. She received roles in “Boris Godunov”, “The Tsar’s Bride”, “Rigoletto”, “The Barber of Seville”.
Having conquered the Russian opera stage, the singer rushes towards worldwide recognition. Together with the Mariinsky Theater, the artist tours Israel and Europe. The singer becomes recognized and loved, and each performance ends with applause. But only after performing in the USA the artist receives global recognition– San Francisco is becoming the city where international fame came to Anna Netrebko. Now more and more often the opera diva performs abroad. Under the roof of the Metropolitan Opera, the production of “War and Peace” is taking place with incredible success. This performance, as well as his role in the opera Don Giovanni, which was presented at a music festival in Austria, made Netrebko a world-famous star.
In 2006, the singer became a citizen of Austria. She does not renounce Russian citizenship. Two years later she was awarded the title of People's Artist of Russia. The world opera star is one of the ten most influential art figures from Russia. The singer has many Russian and international awards in her collection of awards – “Golden Sofit” and German Media Award are just a few of them.
The artist’s fortune has already reached almost $4 million, while the star’s performance schedule is scheduled for several years in advance.
Personal life
Star Anna Netrebko does not talk too much about her personal life. For example, she still refrains from commenting on her romance with Nikolai Zubkovsky, a dancer and former soloist Mariinsky Theater. There are enough rumors about their relationship, and main reason The breakup is considered to be assault by a former lover.
Only in 2007, Netrebko decided to lift the veil of secrecy, and the whole world learned about her engagement to Erwin Schrott, a tenor from Uruguay and the artist’s stage partner. September 2008 was the happiest for the couple - their son was born. The boy was named Thiago. But official marriage The agreement between Netrebko and Schrott was never concluded, although they lived together for 6 years. Whether the busy work schedule of the two stars or difficulties in relationships prevented this is unknown. In November 2013, the couple separated. The son remained to live with his mother.
February 2015 was the beginning of new romantic relationships. In Rome, Anna Yuryevna was supposed to perform the leading role in the play “Manon Lescaut”. Yusif Eyvazov, an Azerbaijani opera performer, turned out to be her stage partner. The relationship between the lovers developed quite rapidly. In the summer of 2015, the opera diva announced a new engagement, and on December 29, 2015, the couple registered an official marriage. A magnificent ceremony took place in Vienna. About 200 guests were invited to the wedding - relatives from the bride and groom, as well as stars of the Russian and world stage.
Famous opera singer, People's Artist of Russia (2008), laureate of the State Prize for 2004 in the field of science and technology, culture and art. In May 2007, she was included in the list of the hundred most influential people world, published by Time magazine. A citizen of Russia, in July 2006, by decision of the Austrian government, she received citizenship of this country “for special merits.”
Anna Yuryevna Netrebko was born on September 18, 1971 in Krasnodar in the family of a geologist. According to Anna's father, she started singing back in kindergarten. IN school years Netrebko was a soloist of the Kuban Pioneer ensemble. In addition, she went in for sports (she has the title of candidate master of sports in acrobatics and categories in athletics). In 1988, Netrebko took part in a beauty contest, where she was awarded the title “Vice Miss Kuban” and received the Audience Award.
In 1990, Netrebko entered the vocal department of the Leningrad State Conservatory named after Rimsky-Korsakov. During her studies, according to media reports, she worked for some time as a cleaner at the Mariinsky Theater.
In 1993, Netrebko became a laureate All-Russian competition vocalists named after Glinka, after which she was invited to the Mariinsky Theater, where she sang an extensive repertoire. According to its official biography, Netrebko in 1994, while still a student fourth year, made her debut on the stage of the Mariinsky Theater in the opera "The Marriage of Figaro". According to Radio Liberty, Netrebko never graduated from the conservatory.
Since 1995, Netrebko began performing abroad. As a member of the Mariinsky Theater troupe, she toured to Finland (Mikkeli Festival), Germany (Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival), France, Israel, Holland, Italy, Japan, Turkey, USA (Metropolitan Opera). She made her debut on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera in the role of Natasha Rostova (War and Peace, production of the Mariinsky Theater). Critics noted that this party became one of best roles in the singer’s repertoire: she subsequently performed it on the stages of the St. Petersburg Mariinsky Theater, the Madrid Teatro Real, Milan’s La Scala, London’s Royal opera house Covent Garden, on Moskovsky Easter festival. In an interview with The Observer in 2007, the singer said that her choice of “Western” repertoire was due to the fact that she “doesn’t have a voice for Russian music; I won’t be a pretty peasant girl in the operas of Glinka or Rimsky-Korsakov.”
Despite the dense tour schedule, the singer remained a soloist of the Mariinsky Theater. Her “Mariinsky” repertoire included such roles as Lyudmila (“Ruslan and Lyudmila”, a video recording of the performance was made by Philips Classics in 1995), Ksenia (“Boris Godunov”), Marfa (“ The Tsar's Bride"), Louise ("Betrothal in a Monastery"), Natasha Rostova ("War and Peace"), Gerda ("The Story of Kai and Gerda"), Rosina (" Barber of Seville"), Amina ("Somnambula"), Lucia ("Lucia di Lammermoor"), Gilda ("Rigoletto"), Violetta Valerie ("La Traviata"), Musetta, Mimi ("La Boheme"), Antonia ("The Tales of Hoffmann") , Suzanne ("The Marriage of Figaro"), Donna Anna, Zerlina ("Don Giovanni"), Magic maiden("Parsifal").
Netrebko had the opportunity to perform with the world's leading conductors, including Valery Gergiev, James Levine, Seiji Ozawa, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Zubin Mehta, Colin Davis, Claudio Abbado. She was invited several times solo concerts and as a participant in opera productions. Thus, at the Concertgebouw (Amsterdam) and the Royal Festival Hall (London) with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Valery Gergiev, she participated in a concert performance of Berlioz’s opera “Benvenuto Cellini”. In 1999-2000, at the San Francisco Opera, she took part in productions of the operas The Marriage of Figaro, Betrothal in a Monastery, Idomeneo, and La Bohème. At the Washington Opera, Netrebko sang the role of Gilda (Rigoletto). In May 2000 and 2001, as part of the Florence Musical May festival, she performed works by Bach and Handel (Judas Maccabeus). On the stages of the San Francisco Opera and the Washington Opera, audiences could see her in the roles of Musetta (La Bohème), Ilia (Idomeneo), Adina (Elisir of Love), Nannetta (Falstaff), Martha (The Tsar's Bride) ), Zerlina ("Don Juan").
In 2002, Netrebko made her debut on the stage of the Philadelphia Opera, performing the role of Juliet in the opera Capulet and the Montagues. In the summer of the same year, she made her debut at the Salzburg Festival as Donna Anna (Don Giovanni), and she performed the same role at the opening of the next season at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden (London). In 2003, at the Los Angeles Opera, the singer performed the role of Lucia di Lammermoor in Donizetti's opera of the same name. In February 2004, Anna Netrebko performed at the Vienna Opera Ball. Among latest works Netrebko was noted by the press for leading roles in the performances “Don Pasquale” (Metropolitan Opera), “Manon” (Los Angeles Opera), “Puritans” (Metropolitan Opera). In 2007, she made her debut at Carnegie Hall, where she had the opportunity to appear on stage with the famous Russian singer Dmitry Hvorostovsky.
Netrebko has been repeatedly awarded at international competitions opera singers. In 1996 she became a laureate of the II international competition young opera singers named after Rimsky-Korsakov, in 1998 - laureate of the highest theater award CASTA DIVA, and in 1999 she was awarded the highest theater award in St. Petersburg, the Golden Sofit. In 2003, Netrebko became a laureate of the Salzburg Prize. music festival. After this, and also after the release of her first disc on Deutsche Grammophon, she became very popular among the Germans and Austrians, who named Netrebko “Person of the Year”.
In October 2005, Netrebko received two prestigious German Echo awards in the field classical music in the nominations "Singer of the Year" and "Album of the Year" (for the recording of the disc "Sempre Libera. Deutsche Grammophon, 2004"). In July 2006, by decision of the Austrian government, Netrebko was granted citizenship of this country “for special merits.” Federal Chancellor of Austria Wolfgang Schuessel noted that a special government decision to grant Netrebko citizenship was required, first of all, because she also retained Russian citizenship.
In 2005, Netrebko became a laureate of the State Prize of the Russian Federation for 2004 in the field of science and technology, culture and art.
In 2006, Netrebko, together with Valery Gergiev, recorded her third solo disc on Deutsche Grammophon - “Russian Album”. It was nominated for a Grammy Award at the Recording Academy of America and, although it did not receive an award, according to critics, it became best album Netrebko throughout her career. Netrebko's fourth album on Deutsche Grammophon - "Duets" - was recorded together with Rolando Villazon (Villazon) in 2007 after the triumphant success of "La Traviata" and a successful joint tour of the singers. In 2006-2007, Netrebko recorded several DVD productions of the operas "La Traviata" (2006), "The Marriage of Figaro" (2007), "The Puritans" (2007) as well as concert performances - The Berlin Concert (2007), The Opera Gala (2007 ).
In May 2007, Netrebko was included in the list of the hundred most influential people in the world, published by Time magazine, and in November 2007, the music publication Musical America recognized Netrebko as “Musician of the Year”. A press release issued in New York noted that she "is a true superstar of the 21st century." The media noted her extraordinary popularity in the West (for her excellent musical and external qualities, the press called her “Audrey Hepburn with a voice”).
As confirmation of Netrebko’s popularity, it was reported that tickets for “La Traviata” with her participation “were sold on the black market for indecently high sums,” and the Metropolitan Opera wrote on advertising posters her name is short - "Anna". However, some critics noted that “with amazing inclinations” - musicality, strength of voice, its flight, artistry, confident command of the stage and audience - Netrebko’s vocals leave “the impression of some imperfection of the school.”
In February 2008, Anna Netrebko was awarded the title "People's Artist of Russia." recent years Netrebko lives in Vienna but has apartments in St. Petersburg and New York. The soloist of the Mariinsky Theater herself said in an interview in 2007: “I don’t go to Russia now, I have Austrian citizenship. And I’m definitely of Latin blood!” The press also wrote about the singer’s personal life. At the beginning of 2008, it became known that Netrebko was expecting a child and was planning to get married soon. Her chosen one was the Uruguayan baritone Erwin Schrott, with whom the singer became engaged in New York in 2007. Anna Netrebko's sister Natalya was also mentioned in the press. She is a fashion designer living in Denmark.
PERSONAL LIFE OF ANNA NETREBKO
Until recently, the personal life of the opera singer was shrouded in a thick veil of secrecy. The woman tried “not to wash dirty linen in public” and not to advertise the details of her novels. It was only relatively recently that details of the singer’s scandalous breakup with dancer Nikolai Zubkovsky began to appear in the media. In particular, according to one version, the man often beat Anna, and therefore the singer decided to put an end to their relationship. Similar messages were often heard from the singer’s close friends. However, she herself never commented on her affair with Zubkovsky, preferring to keep everything secret.
For a long time, Anna Netrebko dated the Uruguayan singer Schrott Erwin. After a long romance, the two celebrities got engaged in 2007. The festive celebrations took place in New York. In September 2008, in one of the Austrian clinics, the singer gave birth to her beloved son Thiago. But after six years, in November 2013, the couple decided to separate.
Anna Netrebko is one of the most famous stars opera stage. She actively performs all over the world. The artist often comes to Russia, not letting her fans get bored. The performer often appears in videos of the most famous Russian and world stars. But our heroine ignores TV shows. She believes that there is no truthful information here. Rumors are brought to incredible proportions and splashed out on television viewers, while it is claimed that it is true.
Currently, the opera diva is happily married. She and her husband live in Vienna and New York, raising their son. Anna Netrebka hopes that she will become a mother again. She dreams of giving her husband a son or daughter.
Hearing the opera singer’s amazing voice for the first time, people immediately become admirers of her talent. They want to know everything about a woman, including the question of what height, weight, and age the opera diva is. It’s easy to find out how old Anna Netrebko is, since her date of birth is known.
In 2018 star opera art will celebrate his 47th birthday. She is creative, friendly and incredibly talented. Anna Netrebko, whose photos in her youth and now invariably arouse interest, is good-natured, sociable, inquisitive, simple, beautiful and loving. With a height of 173 cm, the artist weighs about 67-68 kg.
Biography and personal life of Anna Netrebko
Anechka was born in the 70s of the last century in Kuban. Father - Yuri Netrebko - a professional geological engineer. Mother - Larisa Netrebko worked as a communications engineer. Our heroine has an older sister, Natalya, with whom she is very friendly.
WITH youth the girl amazed those around her with her excellent vocal abilities. She had a great sense of music; her family and friends liked her singing and ability to play musical instruments.
At school, our heroine studied excellently, but also managed to study music, attending classes with teachers in music school. The girl studied in the Kuban Cossack choir. Anna became a participant in a beauty contest in the late 80s of the last century, at which the founder of the KVN game, Alexander Vasilyevich Maslyakov, acted as the host. The jury noted the beauty and talent of the girl who came second. She was awarded a brand new TV.
Having received the coveted certificate, future star opera stage becomes a student at the conservatory in the city on the Neva, which was famous throughout the world. To live in dear city, Anna had to look for a job. She began cleaning the premises of the Mariinsky Theater.
At this time, the biography and personal life of Anna Netrebko began to take on the contours of success. Soon our star takes part in a prestigious competition, after winning which she begins to perform at Mariinsky stage, impressing listeners with his vocals. In the mid-90s of the last century, Anna began performing on the best European and American stages. The art of the opera diva was admired by Latvians, Americans, Italians, Germans, Czechs and many others.
The girl was invited to film films and advertising videos, her performances caused delight at concerts. Anna graced the videos of many popular artists Russian Federation and peace. Netrebko was entrusted with singing the anthem, which she did very well, at the opening ceremony of the Olympics in Sochi.
Opera diva is actively involved in charity work. She helps sick people who find themselves in difficult life and financial situations. The artist is not afraid to defend her opinion. She helped restore the building of the opera house in Donbass, which displeased the Ukrainian government.
The beauty does not like to talk about her personal life, although it began in her school years. Currently, the woman is happily married to Azerbaijani opera tenor Yusif Eyvazov. They are raising a son, born by Anna Netrebko in a civil marriage with Erwin Schroth.
Family and children of Anna Netrebko
The family and children of Anna Netrebko are surrounded by the attention and care of the opera diva, despite her incredible workload and busy tour schedule.
The star's father came from a Kuban Cossack family. The man devoted his entire life to geological exploration of the earth's interior.
The singer's mother was a signalman. The woman managed to perfectly combine work with raising two daughters: Anna and Natalya. Netrebko's parents passed away. Anna, when she is in her homeland, and this happens very rarely, invariably visits their graves.
The singer's sister lives in Copenhagen, Denmark. The sisters are friends, Natalya often calls Anna, supporting her. The woman recently got married, but so far there are no children in the family. Natalya pays attention to her beloved nephew and brings him gifts.
The popular opera singer herself loves her husband and son. She hopes to become a mother again.
Anna Netrebko's son - Thiago Arua Schrott
For the first time, the world stage star became a mother in early 2008. She gave birth to a son from her common-law husband Erwin Schrott.
Anna Netrebko's son, Thiago Arua Schrott, had health problems. At the age of 3, the boy was diagnosed with autism. Thanks to American specialists, Thiago, who was practically silent until he was 4 years old, whom the woman herself calls Tisha, began to talk.
The boy can speak Russian and English and goes to a special school. Currently, autism is almost invisible in Thiago's behavior. The boy loves quiet games and activities. He can play the guitar, sing, and draw well. More than anything else, Thiago loves to watch opera performances with the participation of his beloved mother.
Anna Netrebko's former common-law husband - Erwin Schrott
The young people met in early 2007. Former common law husband Anna Netrebko - Erwin Schrott is a world famous baritone from Uruguay. The opera diva immediately told the man about her attitude towards love and children. They began to live together without officially registering the marriage. A few months later, Anna realized that she was expecting a child. After the birth of their son, the common-law spouses became engaged. It was announced to fans that a wedding would take place soon.
Suddenly the lovers separated and began to announce the end of the relationship. What caused this is unknown. The press calls one of possible reasons– illness of son Thiago.
Currently, former common-law spouses communicate normally. Erwin sometimes visits his son and pays large alimony for his maintenance.
Anna Netrebko's husband - Yusif Eyvazov
The meeting of the future spouses took place in Italy. Neither on his nor on her part was there any certainty that this true love. Anna Netrebko was sure that this was an affair. The woman paid a lot of attention little son and your career.
But the tenor from Azerbaijan, who was in love with her, showed incredible persistence, assuring the world stage star of his feelings. Anna Netrebko's husband, Yusif Eyvazov, convinced the opera artist that he loved her and this feeling would last forever. She soon realized that she could return his feelings.
The celebrations took place in Vienna. Currently, the couple lives in two countries: Austria and the States. The couple actively tours. Fans hope that the family will soon be replenished, and the artist will give her husband a son or daughter.
Olga Shablinskaya, AiF: Anna, the world’s tabloids enjoyed the details of your wedding. But today in the West “free families”, “husbands on weekends”, etc. are very common. Was the official registration of marriage important for you?
Anna Netrebko: Certainly! I really like being a wife, my status and the fact that I have a husband. Moreover, Azerbaijani husbands are some of the best in the world. For an Azerbaijani man, family is always the most important thing in life. I am confident in Yusif - he is very reliable. Therefore, I say: it is better to be married than not! (Laughs.) Although the wedding itself was a complete nightmare for me.
Wedding of Anna Netrebko and Yusif Eyvazov. Photo: www.globallookpress.com
- Wow, what a statement... A wedding in a palace is a nightmare?!
Yes, yes! We seemed to have foreseen everything... and forgot about the hairdresser. Literally an hour before the ceremony, I was hysterical, in my head there was an explosion at a pasta factory. I’m standing in the middle of the room and yelling: “Who will make the bride?” As a result, she somehow gagged something on her head. The unfortunate $2 million tiara was somehow attached to me, but it still slipped to one side. In general, this is how it really was.
And the wedding itself flew by in an instant. I remember we were riding in a carriage. Friends said it was beautiful. Also, as soon as we sat down at the table, Philip said: “So, I went to sing!” Gratitude Kirkorov huge! Everyone danced. And with my crown falling off, I had no time for photographs or anything at all. I just crawled to the table, without eating or drinking, and said: “Can I go home?” And we left, the bride and groom. They simply crawled on all fours onto the bed - there was no longer any talk of a wedding night - and went to bed. And in the morning we woke up - and well, we were surprised: “Where are all the photographs with guests, with relatives?” (Laughs.)
Anna Netrebko, Yusif Eyvazov and Thiago in the carriage. Photo: www.globallookpress.com
Elena Obraztsova told AiF: when her husband Algis Zhuraitis conducted the opera, the whole audience was charged with their love. How do you feel when you are on stage with Yusif?
Yusif is a great singer. His energy is amazing too. But on stage we are, first and foremost, creative partners.
“There are no millions!”
Anna Netrebko and Yusif Eyvazov are world opera stars. I wonder how money issues are resolved in such a family?
Since I had a husband, things have improved. Naturally, I have a banker and special people who take care of my finances, but still they sometimes tell me: “Anya, you spent so much!” Sometimes even more than I earned. Therefore, we need to somehow regulate this issue. Well, now Yusif is in charge of financial affairs - he is great in this regard. Because, of course, my head is completely unstructured to solve financial issues.
And since you asked about money... I don’t know where the rumors about our crazy fees at the opera come from. Someone wrote that I have millions. Maybe they took the number of CDs sold? Indeed, about 4 million of them were sold, but this does not mean that my annual or monthly earnings are that high. In fact, with such a profession, we earn decently. But I pay a huge amount of taxes - almost 50%. Plus, I have to pay for the apartments and support the people who work for me. By the way, both of my apartments - both in New York and in Vienna - were purchased with a mortgage. I will have to repay the bank loan for another 20 years. Here you go, the real situation!
- Is there something for which you never feel sorry for money? Diamonds, outfits?
Jewelry is irrelevant - I have a contract with a world-famous jewelry company, they rent me jewelry. Thanks to them for this. Some designers also give me gifts and sew dresses, but this does not always happen. Naturally, I have to pay for the wardrobe myself. I wore the dress once, it was shown to the whole world, and I can’t wear it again. It has to hang around for a couple of years to be forgotten. And since there are so many concerts, I have to buy new clothes for myself every time.
“I have a contract with a world-famous jewelry company, they rent me jewelry” Photo: RIA Novosti / Maxim Bogodvid
“I keep asking: why?”
Anna, you must agree: when a woman with a child gets married, this is not an entirely simple situation. How can mothers behave correctly?
The only thing I absolutely know is that a child should never say anything bad about his real father, no matter what the relationship between the parents is. (Netrebko was engaged to a baritone from Uruguay Erwin Schrott, from whom she gave birth to a son in 2008 Thiago Arua. In November 2013, after 6 years of relationship, they broke up. - Ed.) Otherwise it will be a big trauma for him.
- I understand that Yusif immediately found common language with Thiago?
Of course, they get along well, he and Tisha have a great relationship. Yusif is raising him with me, there are such moments - of course, there is a man in the house!
In our last interview, you said: “On the day of the performance, it’s good to save up your emotions and talk less.” But you can’t explain to a child: “Son, I have no time for you, in the evening I have to shine on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera.”
Here you are either a mother or a singer - no matter how offensive it may be, you must be able to separate these hypostases. Otherwise nothing will work. I have a whole army of people - friends, a nanny - who take care of the child when I need to concentrate. And when I don’t have to think about work, I spend time with my son. So we have a balance.
Thiago is autistic and studies in a special school, but he also has teachers besides this. I see very great progress in its development. He's a smart boy. Tisha has a serious course of study, a very diverse program. Although his schedule is broken because of my work: he either studies at school or comes to us. You can’t just study all the time and not see your mother. On the other hand, you cannot be at home all the time and not have school friends. That's why I create the right balance. We travel a lot. But I also constantly take my son somewhere - to museums, to walks in parks. So far he is only 7 years old, but he is interested in a lot of things - cars, steam locomotives. Everything a boy should be interested in. Well, he also likes music and conducting.
Anna Netrebko, Yusif Eyvazov and Thiago. Photo: www.globallookpress.com
- When they found out that Thiago had autism, did you have any thoughts: why?
No, the question “why?” there wasn't. I still have another question: why? I tried to go through everything possible in my head why this could happen. Nothing came to mind. Everyone in my family is healthy.
I didn’t take any medications, I didn’t fly on an airplane during pregnancy, I didn’t take antibiotics, I always eat good food. What else could it be? Autism is some kind of genetic change. No one knows why they happen. Why there are so many autistic people in the world remains a mystery even to doctors. But this is a fact: there used to be one in 3,000 such children, now there is one in 150.
- When and how did you realize that Tisha was autistic?
It's very late. I realized when he was already 3 years old. But I just couldn’t accept it - like other mothers who found themselves in a similar situation. How is this possible? Naturally, there was a shock, and in general a nightmare, and all the things... He did not speak - he was silent. Or rather, he uttered some individual words. They say that autistic people don't look people in the eye. It's not true, he looked into the eyes. And he smiled, he was absolutely normal. But it happens that you turn to him, but it’s as if you don’t exist for him, he’s in some kind of his own world. He can't tell you how things are at school...
At first it was the end of the world for me. But then I pulled myself together very quickly and said: “Okay, there’s no time to wait, we need to act quickly.” The sooner you act, the better the result - that's all.
The only thing I can tell the mother of an autistic child: you need to find a professional who will work with him, and the more hours a week, the better. They have their own system, toys, they force children to play some special educational games. Mom won't be able to do this, that's for sure.
Thiago, son of Anna Netrebko. Photo: www.globallookpress.com
Herring and dolma
I remember that you really love herring and black bread and every time in Moscow you gain 3 kg. When you come to Azerbaijan to visit your husband’s relatives, how do you cope with culinary temptation?
I love not only herring - I love everything, all kinds of food. Azerbaijani cuisine is very tasty, and Azerbaijani dolma is the most delicious of all Caucasian ones: it is made only from meat, there is no rice. And if you take it out of the refrigerator in the morning, the dolma will be even tastier. Yes, of course, after you have eaten Azerbaijani food two or three times, you need to stop a little. She's so vigorous. (Laughs.)
Food is also a reason to socialize. We always have a lot of people visiting us. That's why the kitchens are large in both of my foreign apartments. And in St. Petersburg there is a large kitchen. Everyone gathers there, spends time, cooks, eats.
As for whether you are gaining weight or not... I am very happy with the way I look at 45 years old. Naturally, you cannot be the same as you were at 25. But for my age I look great. I'm not going to lose weight, I'm not going to get fat either. We monitor our diet, but we don’t follow diets. A person must eat everything, just in certain quantities. Eating only salads is stupid, giving up meat is nonsense, not eating sweets is also stupid. The body needs sugar for brains and kindness. Do you want to eat cake? Do it at 3-4 pm - the best time.
Naturally, Yusif and I love to eat delicious food - that’s normal. We are healthy people, but healthy body- healthy mind. And then, with our profession, with our catastrophic loads and the repertoire that we sing, we need physical strength. We're like heavyweight wrestlers. Need energy.
“Yusif and I love to eat delicious food.” Photo: www.globallookpress.com
- Which composer requires the most food?
Wagner. He has always been one of my favorite composers, but I never thought I could perform him. However, a couple of years ago, ambitions took over. I wanted to sing the opera Lohengrin. In May there was a premiere at the Dresden State Opera, I performed main party Elsa of Brabant. In Germany - the holy of holies for Wagner! The growing complexity of political relations in the world did not in any way affect the reaction of the public - the audience accepted it so well!.. It was an amazing musical attack. Therefore, at the Stars of the White Nights festival in St. Petersburg, I decided to perform this wonderful production at the Mariinsky Theater. And maestro Gergiev knows the opera “Lohengrin” very well.
Anna, are there any justifications for the myths about preserving the voice in opera? Dmitry Hvorostovsky told an anecdote in an interview with AiF. To an opera singer they inform you by phone about the future performance. He throws things to his naked lover: “Darling, I’m sorry, I have La Traviata in a month.”
It depends on who has what kind of head. The singers are all crazy. (Laughs.) Everyone has their own cockroaches, some have more, some have less. Opera singers have terrible complexes. -Some people are constantly sick before the premiere. Some people drink eggs, some don’t have sex, some don’t wash their hair for a week... I know a tenor who gets hysterical: he has a whole pharmacy in his dressing room, a million of some bubbles, he swallows something, sips it, sniffs it. It seems to him that if this is not done, his voice will immediately disappear.
The fewer cockroaches, the freer your head. Caring for your ligaments must not turn into paranoia. There is a voice - good. I’m wheezing somewhere - so what, I cleared my throat and went on singing. The main thing is to have willpower and cope with the anxiety before the performance. We do it all over again every time. If you sang well yesterday, this does not mean that you will sing well tomorrow.