Product description Used CD .com Here, a year after her sensational Metropolitan debut as Prokofievs Natasha from War and Peace, comes the debut solo recital album of 30-something soprano Anna Netrebko. She hails from southern Russia, and her emergence from the life of a conservatory student has a touch of the Cinderella talethe bit, that is, about being discovered by Gergiev mopping floors for the Kirov as a part-time job and making her way into the Kirov's ranks. Later she became a favorite at San Francisco Opera, trying on for size a swath of comic and dramatic roles. Opera Arias parades Netrebko's way through a spectrum of vocal styles and characters. This mesmerizing lyric soprano engages--at times thrillingly grips--the listener with an imagination far greater than the disc's title (couldn't someone have dreamt up a less ridiculously bland handle?), but most significantly leaves an impression that the enterprise here isn't merely about singing. Netrebko's Ilia and Donna Anna are flesh-and-blood characters in real situations, as Mozart wanted them to be. The results are a bit more uneven with her bel canto heroines, where the required balance between Netrebko's emotional identification, so obviously a forte, and the musical phrasing thereof is a delicate one. Her shading of Lucia's mood swings, vocal and emotional, isn't consistently compelling. On the other hand, Netrebko uncovers gemlike facets not just in Gounod's "Jewel Song" but particularly in her stunning, passionately realized and beautifully phrased Manon (even if her trills disappoint). A shame that samples of her Russian repertory are missing here, though Netrebko's "Song to the Moon" from Dvorak's Rusalka concentrates and sets a mood with enviable mastery. Netrebko's musical intelligence and theatrical savvy seem destined to ensure her a magnificent career, so it's no surprise that many fans are already clamoring for more than the tease of an aria collection. --Thomas May
N**O
Impressive, but even better was to come
This was Anna Netrebko's first recital disc, recorded in March 2003 when the Russian soprano was 31 years old. I personally love Netrebko and decided to get this recital having heard her already in others like "Sempre Libera" and "Verdi," not to mention Metropolitan Opera broadcasts and telecasts like I PURITANI and LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR. For "Opera Arias" Netrebko chose an eclectic French and Italian program (with a single Czech item, the Song to the Moon from Dvorak's RUSALKA) based mostly upon her stage roles up thru that time. A professional reviewer described her tone as "dark with silver gleams," and I couldn't have put it better myself. She is an impulsive, spontaneous artist and can sometimes seem sloppy; for example, she does not consistently trill, and the lack of trills in her sumptuously sung Jewel Song from FAUST is a serious drawback. All in all, I can't help thinking that Anna's lush voice is even more subtly shaded and less inclined to "get away from her" in her "Sempre Libera" disc, recorded in 2004. But make no mistake: "Opera Arias" is highly enjoyable and a must for Netrebko fans. I'm glad I bought it!
W**Y
One of the top sopranos of alltime
If you watch her on youtube you'll rush to buy her CD's, I did.
R**D
Anna is an absolute treasure...........
Gorgeous. Sexy. Pop-star charisma. And the voice of an angel...a strong one. This album was her debut seven years ago; she's done a bit of developing since then, and would now be well classified as a lyric soprano.My favorites here were the excerpts from "Lucia" and "Manon", as well as "Musetta's Waltz". The Mozart really didn't fit. "Traviata" is her forte; ditto "La Boheme" [either soprano part]. I hope she stays away from some of the heavier stuff...Desdemona, Leonore [both], Norma. [Sleep well, Rosa; you're safe].Anna is an opera singer with rock-star looks and drawing power...she was a work in progress seven years ago, and, really, still is. Grab this [and her duet disc with Villazon], and see what the fuss is about.
A**A
Remarkable!
Perhaps her voice is not as candid as some other sopranos, but her rendition of the score and interpretative expression make her and exquisite hearing pleasure. This recording shows a more matured artist capable of capturing the role dynamics and emotions.Yes, her voice is not as lyric as you might expect, and some roles may sound a little big heavy (sometimes maybe bordering verismo), but definitively at stated before hearing her is a gloriuos pleasure, almost as good as looking at her.
M**.
She's beautiful but ...
The selection seems to be alright. However mediocre CD sound quality is not what I was expecting. You hear her voice but the instruments are not well defined/recorded where you can not follow instruments and stage them properly. Sound detail of instruments playing music is not well presented. I am kind of disappointed of this product quality specially coming from Deutsche Grammophon.
A**D
amazing voice
though I am not an opera aficionado......this cd was bought for my daughter. She is a huge fan of Anna Netrebko, and indeed her voice is fabulous.As this album is a collection of arias there is something in it for everyone.She has a great charisma and a lush voice. it cannot help but move you
S**T
Good for a opera newbee.
This is a good c.d. for someone who likes opera a little but wants to get into it more. Netrebko has a beautiful voice and is quite talented.
T**G
Wonderful recording of a fabulous voice
In this recording, Anna Netrebko justifies all the kudos she has received in the past several years. I have several other CD's featuring her, and this one shows her range which is astonishing. I look forward to hearing her when she finishes her maternity leave and once again is on the stage or in the recording studio.
E**A
Bon produit
CD parfait pour l'écoute et les arias ! Envoi plus rapide que prévu ☺️Petit bémol mais sans importance, le boîtier du CD était cassé dans un angle de fermeture malgré l'emballage papier bulle
G**O
sono incisioni ottime; gli esecutori Netrebko, Damrau, corale della Cappella Sistina, sono i migliori che io conosca.
sono incisioni ottime e gli esecutori, il soprano A.Netrebko, D.Damrau, e il coro della Cappella Sistina sono i miei prediletti !!Questi cd io li consiglierei davvero a chiunque ami la musica di qualità.
G**R
Promesse tenue.
Cet album etait en 2003 le recital "carte de visite" d'une jeune soprano qui depuis fit la carriere que l'on sait.....Un trés beau disque, un vrai palisir de la retrouver à ses débuts, de Mozart à Puccini, en passant par Donizetti , Bellini, massenet, Berlioz et Dvorak, superbes interpretations, voix glorieuse, la naissance d'une diva.
F**H
Netrebko
Servizio del sito inappuntabile. Cortesia e celerità. Articolo arrivato velocemente ed in ottime condizioni. Sono stato molto soddisfatto della transazione
J**A
Excellent
C'est un plaisir de retrouver la voix d'Anna Netrebko quand elle était plus jeune et chantais encore le bel canto .
