Netrebko was born in Krasnodar. She began her career washing floors at St Petersburg's Mariinsky Theatre (home of the then Kirov Opera). There, she attracted the attention of conductor Valery Gergiev who became her vocal mentor. Guided by Gergiev, she made her operatic debut at the Mariinsky as Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro. She went on to sing many roles with the company, including Amina in La Sonnambula, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, Rosina in The Barber of Seville, Lucia di Lammermoor among others.
In 1995, at age 24 years old, Netrebko made her US debut as Lyudmila in Glinka's Ruslan and Lyudmila at the San Francisco Opera. After this, she became a frequent singer at San Francisco, and later she appeared in other cities in the US. She became an acclaimed interpreter of Russian roles, such as Lyudmila, Natasha in Prokofiev's War and Peace, Louisa in his Betrothal in a Monastery and Marfa in The Tsar's Bride. However, she also succeeded in bel canto and romantic roles such as Gilda in Rigoletto, Musetta in La Bohème and Giulietta in I Capuleti e i Montecchi.
In 2002, Netrebko debuted at the Metropolitan Opera as Natasha in that company's first production of War and Peace. In the same year, she sang her first Donna Anna at the Salzburg Festival, conducted by Nikolaus Harnoncourt.
In 2003, Anna Netrebko sang Violetta in Munich, the title role of Lucia di Lammermoor at the Los Angeles Opera and Donna Anna at the Royal Opera House, She also released her first studio album, Opera Arias, which was one of the best selling classical recordings of the year. In 2004, she followed her successes and released her second album Sempre Libera. In 2005, she sang a highly regarded Roméo et Juliette with Rolando Villazón, with whom she also performed in L'Elisir d'Amore later that year. In the same year, she appeared as Violetta Valéry in Verdi's La Traviata at the Salzburg Festival, conducted by Carlo Rizzi.
Netrebko's voice is notable for having both the softness and flexibility of a lyric soprano as well as the resonance and darkness of a spinto soprano. She has also a large range, being able to sing high E flats and even high E's.
In March 2006, Netrebko applied for Austrian citizenship in Vienna, which she received only months later in August 2006. According to an interview in the Austrian weekly "News", she will live in Vienna and Salzburg.
O mio babbino caro
Anna Netrebko Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mi piace è bello, bello
Vo'andare in Porta Rossa
A comperar l'anello
Sì, sì, ci voglio andare
E se l'amassi invano
Andrei sul Ponte Vecchio
Ma per buttarmi in Arno
O Dio, vorrei morir
Babbo, pietà, pietà
Babbo, pietà, pietà
The song "O mio babbino caro" by Anna Netrebko is based on a young woman's plea to her father. The song is written in Italian and the lyrics translate to, "Oh my dear papa, I love him so much, he is handsome and I want to go to the red gate to buy a ring. Yes, yes, I want to go there. And if my love isn't returned, I will go to the old bridge and jump into the Arno. I am tortured and in agony, oh God, I wish to die. Father, have mercy, have mercy!"
This song is a perfect example of the power of a child's love for their parent. The young woman is so in love that she is willing to throw away her life if her love is not returned. The song is heartbreaking, and the lyrics are powerful. It is a beautiful song, and Anna Netrebko's voice adds to the depth of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
O mio babbino caro
Oh my dear father
Mi piace è bello, bello
I like him very much, very much
Vo'andare in Porta Rossa
I want to go to Porta Rossa
A comperar l'anello
To buy the ring
Sì, sì, ci voglio andare
Yes, yes, I want to go there
E se l'amassi invano
And if my love is in vain
Andrei sul Ponte Vecchio
I would go to Ponte Vecchio
Ma per buttarmi in Arno
But to throw myself in the Arno
Mi struggo e mi tormento
I am consumed by longing and torment
O Dio, vorrei morir
Oh God, I wish to die
Babbo, pietà, pietà
Father, have mercy, have mercy
Babbo, pietà, pietà
Father, have mercy, have mercy
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GIOVACCHINO FORZANO, GIACOMO ANTONIO PUCCINI, FRANK PETERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nesherben-negev1345
For me, there is no better soprano to sing this piece, and I listen to all the great singers of the world. The fact that she is Russian changes nothing for me. She is simply amazing.
@user-sq2gf6jm7l
Спасибо, вам за добрые слова.
@WolfgangWimmer
It does not change anything because she is born in Russia but she is actively supporting Putins Regime which is wanted War Criminal and this changes something for everybody.
@labeate
half Ukrainian
@paoloparravicini3526
Un grande voce e una bellissima donna
@theoroma6883
Who cares where she is born. As for being half Ukranian, who cares. Are you all racists???
@peterhutchins9246
Forget the political hypocrisy and other crap, this is just simply a voice that comes along once in a century.
@rini-rinn
Сколько слушаю - дыхание останавливается - так прекрасно! ❤
@ritamadeddu4198
❤ 2:50
@rudolfcichon9240
Krásná žena se zlatým hrdlem.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤