Anna Netrebko sings Anna Bolena "Al dolce guidami" - 2011

[infrantasi]

There is such a bad sense of pitch from the very start of this performance, the word "sospiri" particularly excruciating to the ear, but there are many other examples throughout where the entire aria comes close to a crash landing. My personal opinion of Netrebko, an immensely popular singer and a talented actress, is that she is the Beyonce of Bel Canto. Etta James is to Callas as Netrebko is to Beyonce—a remnant of a great singer with a few pretty high notes. A sign of the times, purtroppo!

[mariandevadas]

sorry to say but anna netrebko is not anna bolena.....really she has nothing to do with bolena! she just sings....

[ghostofyeats]

what a lovely voice, but who cares? serious intonation problems, no coherence of dramatic conception.

[raindyns]

I like to be transformed into an opera singer and live that artistic fantasy even if it is just for those few hours.

[delmoral73]

I saw ANNA performed this operea this past Saturday via MET HD.

She was spectacular! Can wait to purchase this video.

The prduction was first rate. The rest of the cast were amazing!

[teaanv]

She also has definite intonation problems...

[pclassik1]

maria callas nailed it ---- sorry, Anna - I love you for many reasons - but not this.

[FilmGuyNewyork]

@pclassik1 Maria Callas has nothing to do with this. If you don't like Netrebko her state your reasons but to say you don't like it because Maria Callas did it better would make it hard for any singer to compete with.

[MCSQUARED31]

Hi, asdfopera; elementary simply because a 'combo' of "Lucia" + "Anna Bolena" IS sufficient as a litmus (or any other kind of) test in Belcanto; what more are you eagerly awaiting for: may I mention "Norma" (God almighty, forbid!) or "Armida" (which was spoiled enough lately by other pseudo-specialists or belcanto wannabe's )....Ecco tutto. Ciao.

[asdfopera]

@MCSQUARED31

no.

[MCSQUARED31]

Hello, Ariadne7710; thanks for your responces, but we're clearly talking about different things here: you emphasize likeability, so that Anna cannot do any wrong, whereas I focus on how she handles Italian romantic operas ("Lucia" in this case). We go in parallel planes (i.e. with no common point). Thank you again.

[asdfopera]

@MCSQUARED31

why don't you consider another example besides lucia? I Capuleti e i Montecchi is another great bel canto opera and netrebko is wonderful as gulietta. you can't use one opera + one role for a litmus test for all bel canto. sorry.

[croatiafestival]

Lana Kos is the goddess...Her voice is much , much better !

[MCSQUARED31]

yes, Anna screamed out the final e-flat (Lucia; Met, 209); but, again, to the point of technique, based on what she has, her safest bet should've been Puccini when it comes to Italian classical opera; I cannot agree that a Lucia performance can be ANY good if a soprano cannot sing one single trill in the entire opera. She should forget about Bel Canto music for good, as she does not have technical abilities to do a justice to the most demanding soprano parts in that repertoire. Ciao.

[MCSQUARED31]

In a retrospect, cannot help but wonder who in a right mind could hire Anna to sing Lucia at the Met in Jan. 2009. She did not have one single trill.....come on now! Or does a pretty face compensate for Everything this rotten day and age, eh?

[asdfopera]

@MCSQUARED31

at the met they usually schedule roles 4 or more years in advance so netrebko was probably asked to sing lucia in 2005 around the same time her career at the met took off. she had already sang lucia before 2009 and it was pretty good. her lucia in 2009 was also good, but she could not sing an e flat in the mad scene.

[Ariadne7710]

@MCSQUARED31 When they schedule operas in all the major opera houses they usually do it about 5 years in advance. She had the baby only 3 months before the Lucias at the Met. I saw one of the performances. She sang most of the trills and also the final Eb. That evening Villazon's voice cracked! Next Act someone came out to say he had a throat infection but would carry on anyway. Anna did a great job steadying the ship. But since you don't like her singing you don't have to listen to it

[MCSQUARED31]

Amatuer delivery.... Sloppy and forced cadenzas, with no legato.....wobble.... She could be a nice person, a good mother, but all of that is totally irrelevant to the fact that she is not a belcanto singer and will never be one....  Maria CALLAS very wisely noted in one of her interviews that acquiring technique while you're on stage would be a bit too late. Netrebko is the best example of such a situation...... Her domain should be Puccini or modern operas...

[bailey507]

Well I really enjoyed this

[philipc67]

What a mess. Several notes are sung flat or scooped up, she runs out of breath trying to add high notes, her pianissimo is nonexistent, and the tempo is all over the place. No real coloratura technique either. Obviously she looks attractive on stage, but at 40 she has gained a lot of weight and will soon be non-credible. I saw her in CAPULETTI E MONTECCHI at the ROH a while ago...a moderately good soprano, no more. There is nothing exceptional about her voice, technique, or acting.

[spqrmor]

@philipc67 Not less atrocious, then your stupid insulting attack, little nerd! Go better teach your grandma to boil eggs. Bad mouth without pants!

[simisimi9]

SHE IS A LITTLE CHUBBY TO BE CREDIBLE....!!!!

[spqrmor]

If only envious nerds( who wrote their vile pasquinades below) could properly read the Donizettian's score bar by bar! Obviously they can't, as well as they can't sing a just a simple falk song at the dinner party. Envious, half-educated and narrow-minded morons!

[oscardegliorazi]

I don't like nothing about this performance

[jfbecks17]

Good thing she's pretty...

Anyone seeking to hear a better rendition can find any soprano online that sings this song and click.

[NEBESHIKU]

@DeutschSoprano where you there that night or are you just talking out of your ass?

[MusicSimone]

A beautiful singer with a beautiful voice.

Why do some people resort to insults? Being jealous is ridiculous. Many of us have great voices, but we missed the right opportunity,  got older, or our voice was just simply not quite impressive enough?

And why compare singers? It is like comparing painters - many great ones with different styles, that's all.

I enjoy most singers for what they have to offer, and Netrebko is full of life and absolutely great.

[wtcgap]

Ich muss mich schon über einige unflätigen Kommentare wundern. Diese Zeitgenossen sollten ihre Ansichten lieber für sich behalten, oder ggf auf sich selbst anwenden.

[NEBESHIKU]

the most pathetic screams of a third class whore! That day the opera house was really a slaughter house as Netrebko butchered Anna Bolena.

[asdfopera]

@NEBESHIKU

why call her a whore? she's actually a mother and a first class opera singer.

[NEBESHIKU]

@asdfopera you are right, calling her a whore would gives whores a bad name! She is a fifth class "singer" that had the luck to be born when Callas, Sutherland, Tebaldi, Caballé, Price and the rest of the real first class sopranos were no longer performing or were going to retire. I'm sure that if Paris Hilton would dare sing in an opera you would fine her "a first class opera snger".

[NEBESHIKU]

@asdfopera call child servicies because is Netrebkos singing habilities are any indication of her mothering skill then that child or children are in grave peril! First class opera singer she ain't!

[asdfopera]

@NEBESHIKU

you are trying to be clever, but your reasoning is too flawed to be taken seriously. you are joking, right?

[NEBESHIKU]

@asdfopera in fact i wasn't, the truth is that i had to put it is the most basic form so you could understand it.

[Loismustdie26]

@NEBESHIKU While I'm not a Trebs fan, and it would be safe to say I am her anti-fan, there's no reason to go to ugly sexist remarks such as "whore". There are plenty of humanizing attributes such as her personality and "talent" to rip on without also throwing needless sexism into the mix.

[NEBESHIKU]

@Loismustdie26 if she looked like Joan Sutherland and sang like Netrebko, then she would have never gotten out of washing bathrooms!

[FilmGuyNewyork]

@NEBESHIKU don't be such a nasty person. you can have an opinion about the art but don't bash someones character. She is a very classy and compassionate human being that has feelings and a family.

[NEBESHIKU]

@FilmGuyNewyork no need to say antything more, if you think she is "classy" that says i all about you; do you think that the skanks fro JS are also classy?

[asdfopera]

@NEBESHIKU

there is no comparison between netrebko and the women on jersey shore. where do you get these ideas? lol

[NEBESHIKU]

@asdfopera just wanted to know how far off your "class" compass was... by the way, what Netrebko does can be call many things, but art is not one of them...

[Jtogati]

@NEBESHIKU this is not great work..as an opera singer myself,....no no..really..i can't say for her other works but this is quite elementary...but that's the opera world these days...it's very political

[spqrmor]

@Jtogati I 'd love to hear any politician's singing on the stage.LOL! There's nothing to help anyone,even with help of political treaks, to sing Donizettian opera on famous stages of the world!

If this "so elementary",by your judgemental opinion,then come out of your place and prove to be better then Netrebko. Otherwise, it's still petty and envious rant of yours,no less no more.

[NEBESHIKU]

@Jtogati As i've said, if Netrebko had her same technique, voice and singing abilities and looked like Sutherland, she would have never made it in anyway she would have stayed cleaning the bathrooms.

[bachianasop]

E' calante o sbaglio??

[dpguibors]

we never forget callas but i think she is a great anna bolena

[flicfan416]

meh

[Thewisemonkey9]

Now this is wonderful... some Donizetti, Bellini... then on to Verdi...

It is very good... so beautiful... so very beautiful...

[birgitnilsson]

No one in here listened to the Callas - Simionato Bolena? Now, tha´s a good question, cause there is the real thing.

[AustrianAdrian]

nice but much inferior to the rendition of Krassimira Stoyanova. Physically of course bella Anna is perfect for the role

[kake1959]

Netrebko sings flat here, and the orchestra sounds like crap with flat intonation and sloppy entrances. I expected better at least of the orchestra. Maybe they are just trying to match Netrebko. She sounds like Miss Piggy!

[caitalam]

She really goes deep and finds the heart of the character she's playing.

[augustine051]

Class!

[tlacubo]

I love her! She has a fabulous voice and serious talent :D

[lanimabilanganligot]

Every diva is totally different and that insight has allowed me to draw comfort from having a different perspective on opera.

[beersibley]

Just understand and appreciate that singers are inherently different from each other.

[MusicVocalism]

I'm sick and tired of people comparing each "diva" to the next! Callas is dead and yes she has a legacy, but her voice didn't suit everything she did + What kind of role model is she if she wasn't able to stay in the business for long b/c she was trying tooo hard to be versatility it damaged her voice :( In conclusion every singer has their strengths and weakness JUST ENJOY THE MUSIC! ♪♫

[NEBESHIKU]

@MusicVocalism the gold of an artist is to make art for what ever time they can, it is not to be a cheetoh and have a long expiration date like Sutherland and Caballé who sang for decades with wrecked voices.

[tumtillia]

Anna Netrebko, she is one of the most lovable woman of all time! She is just great in the role.

[gman20101]

Sutherland's Bolena on DVD (1984) was poor view and boring and transposed interpretation of great Donizetti. Because of such productions opera lost its popularity imho. But Smeton was very good there (Janet Stubbs).

[OLIVCHEN77]

Well, and when the Netrebkofanclub vote & vote again: THIS IS NOT GOOD. BASTA

@7bbuwe, bodolito & loveIstheonlyway are ABSOLUTELY RIGHT

[7bbuwe]

Das ist schlecht

[bodiloto]

Canto dilettantesco,stile stonatissimo poco brillante con poco gusto.

Dopo questa "interpretazione" sentiamo come il pubblico grida "bravaaaaaaaa"...

un pubblico moderno che ha poca educazione musicale e ancora meno preparazione,un pubblico passivo senza cuore per la vera lirica italiana.

Benvenuti nel mondo della lirica del 21 secolo!

[LoveIsTheOnlyLaw]

She is OUT OF TONE! davvero stonata!!!!! :(

[Eileentiu]

She still has the power to amaze me. A live performance and she STILL sounds amazing. There is still true talent out there <3

[pinklashanda]

If you can outdo yourself on the record version of yourself, that is just awesome nowadays. Only a few artists sound better live.

[tumtillia]

I think she actually sounds better live.

[siddiui1]

Judged by the ears only this is quite good.

[OLIVCHEN77]

ANd I say it again: beautiful voice - but she isn"t a technical good singer - and in Belcanto Operas you can hear that.

So sad....

[spqrmor]

@OLIVCHEN7 The stupid thing repeated twice is a sign of imbecility, that's said triple -complete idioticy, more- there's no definition...

[OLIVCHEN77]

@spqrmor ...Honey, its not my fault that you hear with your eyes

[spqrmor]

@OLIVCHEN77 Well,if the shoe fits, wear it honey!

[spqrmor]

@OLIVCHEN77 Well,if the shoe fits, wear it  honey!

[OLIVCHEN77]

@spqrmor Well..you think she is a good singer, I think she is a absolutely overrated singer.

Lela Gencer, Hasmik Papian, Adelaide Negri, Angela Meade, Maria Dragoni, Helen Bickers, M. Gruberova had done more with this role then Miss Netrebko did.

[spqrmor]

@OLIVCHEN77 Your aplomb and pitiful, tasteless list of bolenettas( excl. A.Meade) who totally destroyed this opera only proves my first and true observation about you.Sorry for you honey...There are only two real Anna Bolenas - Maria Callas and now Anna Netrebko.By!

[OLIVCHEN77]

@spqrmor Please........I write only a few Bolenas...Sutherland was a good Bolena, Sills was fantastic

Callas and Netrebko are not on the same Level. its like Coke and Champagne...Greetings to Russia

[spqrmor]

@OLIVCHEN77 Oh,don't ride the high horse,dearie.Mrs Sutherland started performing her Bolena having being lost half of her previous strength in all registers,being with no acting at all.Mr.Gagnon rewrote the whole opera for B.Sills.Even the transpositions couldn't save her from screaming in the middle register,it was very atrophic and not dramatic singing.IMHO these two respected divas could not render a portrayal of Anna Bolena anyway.

[spqrmor]

@OLIVCHEN77 As to your drinking comparison....hmmm, people often mix up drinks not knowing their dose and proper using. As a result they have only heavy hangover and often indigestion.

[raindyns]

Netrebko is an alien or something. It's magic!!!

[augustine051]

One of the greatest diva I've seen in my life...

beautiful! :)

[Shahrdad]

All comparisons to Callas aside, this really is a very credible assumption of the role. It's definitely far better than I've heard in a long time.

[arejn5]

I wish I had heard this sooner.

[spqrmor]

@olobbus Agree, it'sheer beauty! But why left one?

[olobbus]

so gentle!

[gillimut]

Undeniable talent here, although i actually prefer this aria at a slower tempo.

[BEVER29]

Pas vraiment indigne mais aussi peu belcantiste (phrasé, souffle, ligne, technique, style) qu'intéressant. Rideau!

[jewelmarkess]

I liked it, and am looking to listening to her singing this at the Met next year. It's the first time she sang the role. Sure if one starts compare one performance to a combination of multiple performers where one has a better technique, another something else, then no singer will ever come close. Nobody can be totally perfect.

[Shahrdad]

Anna is a great talent with a beautiful voice. However, I cannot but think that her technical training was never complete and it still remains an approximation of true bel canto technique which Callas, Sutherland, and Sills had mastered. She is a good musician and quite beautiful and magnetic, so I think the whole package on stage often works admirably . Standing as a purely audio document, aside from a beautifully produced and gorgeous voice, there are a lot of purely technical issues.

[classicalgalNYC]

I'm sorry but Viva Anna all her haters need to have their youtube accounts deleted they obviously don't want to move on from Callas she has been dead for far tooo long =/ Sorry...

[09avenger]

Fantastic! Bravo Anna!

[violetavalery]

Come on, it's not that bad, I think it's a decent performance considering the performance level of most singers today. She has a very beautiful timbre and an acceptable voice emission. Her high notes are always consistent, she never fails when going to the highest notes. I think she's far better than Gruberova, who is a sourbette and has NOT the voice for this role. Of course she will never sound like Callas 'cause she belongs in this era and no one has that technique these days.

[jewelmarkess]

@violetavalery ... and Giuditta Pasta was better than all of them. Maybe. Or maybe not. We live here and now, and the past always seems better, but even these great singers of the past weren't perfect. Callas had excellent technique and artistry, but her timbre was far from perfect. Every great singer has strengths and weeknesses. Each of us values those differently. Yes, Anna has a beautiful timbre, and she really throws herself into roles, she is exciting.

[Shahrdad]

@jewelmarkess You should read Chorley's writings about Giuditta Pasta; you'd swear he was writing about Maria Callas. The description of the veiled voice, or the "uncouth" starting materials, the authority in the singing, the uneven registers are all eerily similar to what one hears in Callas and what she was criticized for. Yet, both had an impact on musical history that is not matched by the more "perfect" singers who had the more conventionally even and beautiful voices.

[jewelmarkess]

@Shahrdad Very interesting. From what I read Malibran didn't have a perfect instrument either. Yes, these singers with less than perfect instruments made a great impact on opera history and their audiences because of their great artistry. But ultimately - nobody is perfect, and different people value different things differently.

[09avenger]

This is a GREAT debut! With more experience she will become fabulous!

Bravo Anna!

[amlirco]

@lamusicahera Hands off KASAROVA, babe...

[Cuteo05]

@lamusicahera AMEN!

[goodbyenewyork]

Thank you for the clip. As much as I enjoy Anna's beautiful dark tone and her undeniable ntural acting skill and sense for drama I can't undestand why she keeps butchering bel canto repertoire which has no sufficient technique for, It doesn't do her justice, in my opinion. She is plausible in Verdi (I like her Violetta) and would be exciting in verismo - why she keeps insisting she is "soprano assoluta" through these bel canto attempts is beyond me.Like I said - I generally like her as an artist

[spqrmor]

@goodbyenewyork Bad soldier who does not want to be a general.

[Shahrdad]

@goodbyenewyork Her Sempre Libera in Traviata from Salzburg was total shambles. I think Anna's beauty ultimately was harmful to her as a singer, as she became successful before she truly polished her bel canto technique. Her singing of florid music or of slow arias which are real tests of one's bel canto credentials (such as Casta Diva or Al Dolce Guidami) falls quite short of the mark. I think had she had a more complete technical schooling, she could have been truly great.

[gayoperadude63]

at 2:49-3:00 she sang it as written rather that embellishing it as some singers do! It is beautifully done and doesn't not sound amateurish!

[agladd]

She was very tired, I think.

[operascore]

Beverly Sills - Anna Bolena - Piangete Voi...Al dolce guidami...Coppia iniqua.

Sorry Anna, but this is something you can only dream of, we love you anyway

[petelovesbevsills]

@operascore You said it all!!! AMEN!

[65Armida]

Sgradevole,non ha nessun requisito per questo ruolo,è soubrette e Vedova allegra,Musetta,West Side Story,una cantante belloccia una sottospecie della Moffo,queste non sono belle come le attrici,ma come soubrette non sono primedonne,finiamola,la Moffo aveva capito

[DottoreJojo]

I think Garanca sings with Netrebko, for the same reason Mick Jagger likes to stand next Keith Richards. I wonder if Netrebko realizes this.

[DottoreJojo]

I think she's on her way to become a prof singer, has she learned to practice? It's hilarious how long it's taken her to present some work worthy of hearing.

[SuperFelis44]

Cala!

[operagirlify]

Wonderful! Thanks ;)

[tklogan111809]

she's off from the start. Unsteady, shaky. I was pulling for her, I'm a fan but this wasn't good. The Coppia iniqua was better.

[LohengrinT]

@tklogan111809

Hi logan :)) Explain to me this since u have devoted your entire life to Coloraturas... why she sounds that she has the ability sing this very well, but she fails to sing it! I dont understand it. She can but she wont... perhaps a voice teacher would explain this phenomenon to us

[tklogan111809]

@LohengrinT the problem in her case is a large instrument that she can't really control, bel canto requires agility and the vocal chords must respond in kind. What's easy for some coloraturas becomes very difficult for Netrebko, there's little a teacher can do in her case. Richard Bonynge explains this well when he talks about Sutherland being unique, she had a large voice but could do all the incredible things that the bel canto composers required.

[LohengrinT]

@tklogan111809

shoudlnt she be able to master it and control it 100% with the proper exhausting exercises? Sutherland (and it was Sutherland!) spent hours and hours before her piano with Richard before being able to go out and sing a role. Somtimes months! Sometimes she even cancelled an entire role (Costanze) if she werent 100% sure she had it.

What Netrebko needs is study study study in my opinion. It is shame to hear such a talented instrument played with so many amateurisms ;)

[tklogan111809]

@LohengrinT it could help a bit but I don't see her doing it, she lacks discipline. I've watched her in the rehearsal process a few times and she's very superficial technically. What she's fantastic at is the drama. She's an animal on stage and you can't take your eyes off her. Not always of course, she has to be on. If her heart isn't in it (like in the MET Lucia) she can be very dull.

[DottoreJojo]

@tklogan111809 I am of the opinion that heavy voices produce the best trills. A nice loose trill from the bottom of the diaphragm.

[MrTomsport]

I usually defend Netrebko, although I am not a big fan. She is usually at least professional.

This is really not very good, though. The pitch is random, sometimes flat, sometimes sharp, the embellishments are clumsy, the expression is rather placid and superficial, the position of the voice often too far back in the soft palate, or even the throat.

To her defence one could mention the timbre which is still nice in colour.

But imagine all the money she's getting for such an average performance...

[oreste61]

Schrecklich!!!! Warum hat der böse Holender für diese Rolle die UNICA, die ASSOLUTA - EDITA GRUBEROVA - nicht engagieren wollen? Die Netrebko ist und sagt Nichts in dieser Partie: unverständliche italienische Aussprache, keine schöne Phrasierung, Intonationsprobleme, und vor allem kein Belcanto-Bewußtsein.

[gestas60323]

@oreste61

wie wahr !

[LohengrinT]

@oreste61

Edita was not born an Assoluta and she didnt become an Assoluta in her life. Assoluta does not mean the Best or Prima Donna etc it means being able to sing with full support of the sound the 9 defining Assoluta roles. Edita has sung 3 of the Assoluta roles (Devereux, Norma, Bolena) and with more compromises, transpositions and tricks that her Legendary Status should allow her to do so ;)

[oreste61]

@LohengrinT

Hi! And what would the 9 defining Assoluta roles be? My ignorance is really immense! But here we're speaking about Netrebko's poor performance! Have a nice day!

[LohengrinT]

@oreste61

Defining assoluta roles are roles with extremely intricate and fully heroic fioritura, widely varied tessitura, a very wide range (at least B5+1 to B3-1) and a frequently emotive and energetic orchestra accompanying a dynamic vocal line necessitating a completely heroic vocal tone: Norma, Lady Macbeth, Bolena, Elisabetta (Roberto Devereux), Reiza (von Weber's Oberon), Medea (Cherubini's), Abigaile, Armida (Rossini) and Gemma di Vergy.

[labirintodivetro]

amateurish

[TheWisemonkey8]

The lady is very precious... it is tough at the top. Hmm... I see so much Donizetti ahead... I cant' wait.

[dvdgrog]

Absolutely gorgeous. I am grateful for the lack of technical knowledge regarding what this is supposed to sound like. Ravishing and heart felt are good enough for me.

[belcantofan159]

@Homoclassicus

Netrebko has a unique timbre and overall this is a good performance, but technique and phrasing are far from perfect. Gruberova's Bolena had much more depth.

[Homoclassicus]

I find it strange that all the comments are about the notes and none about the phrasing. Particularly in this aria, phrasing and expressive shaping of the vocal line is essential, and Netrebko sounds most successful at that. Indeed, the scale at 2:50 doesn't go till the right higher note, she needs to improve at that. However, I can't see many other technical flaws in the rest. Even some greats split a word to take a breath (except those who excelled in breath control, i.e Sutherland, Callas...)

[mozart200657]

Imprecisa, tecnicamente scorretta, una marmellata di note senza senso

[TheMariaBorgia]

Also compare 2:49-3:00: In this dynamic scale the following note must be higher than the note before!!! But she just doen't sing this!!! It sounds amateurish.

The voice itself sounds great of course. Netrebko has a very beautiful voice.

[asdfopera]

@TheMariaBorgia

this was netrebko's first live complete bolena, gruberova has sung the role many times and yes, at this age she still sings it well and that's a marvel in and of itself.

[LohengrinT]

@TheMariaBorgia

indeed something went terribly wrong in the scale at 2:53. It shouldnt have happened

As you said, amateurisms!

[TheWisemonkey8]

@TheMariaBorgia I wonder... have you sung Bolena? If so... I will source a recording?

[Ginii1]

@TheMariaBorgia She does exactly the same way than Maria Callas and she was the best. Netrebko is just doing the role for the first time. This aria is at the end of the whole role and she is tired, you can't judge the perfection here because she was staging. And I saw her, she was amazing.

[coryisawake]

@Ginii1 No-to me this bears no likeness at all to Callas' interpretation, which was centered on commitment and singing each note come scritto, the long upward phrase clean and unobstructed by breath and NOT compromising musicianship for non-essential high notes and slight of hand.

That people don't see the difference is major cause for concern.

If Callas said Sutherland put her work back 100 years, how far back has Netrebko put Sutherland's work?

[NEBESHIKU]

@Ginii1 she does nothing like Callas. I was there during this performance and it was pathetic how the brain dead audiance applaud to this filth. She showed that she can0t sing belcanto, that todays audiances will applaud to everuthing and anything and with this voice and technique and had look like Sutherland then she would of gone no where and stayed cleaning bathrooms.

[Laeliapurpurata]

@NEBESHIKU Anna fans have a problem with perception... they know what mothers are, and they think she's nice, all quite irrelevant to her craft, which is singing, of which the fans have no real knowledge. The same phenomenon in politics, when politicians spew ideas, the stupid people hate them, but they see poilticians dance, or do something "everyday", suddenly their perception changes, it is quite incredible. Opera cannot flourish amidst such an obtuse audience, it's quite sad.

[NEBESHIKU]

@Laeliapurpurata most of them are functional illeterates that think that by listening to her they become cultured but if the poor things could in fact read the score that Donizetti wrote of Anna Bolena as Netrebko sings it, they could fathom how she butchers it. She will never be able to sing Bel Canto like it has to be sung.

[thomastmwc]

@TheMariaBorgia I think she does sing this, a note higher than the previous one

[TheMariaBorgia]

The sound of the voice is lovely, but the style and her technique is really bad. The phrase from 3:10 -3:20 is enough to disqualifie herself: She splits the word "amor", runs out of breath and than just sing this phrase again!!!!! You may not like the old Gruberova, but compare this piece sung by Netrebko to Gruberovas recent recording from Barcelona, its like to compare decorative painting with the "Last supper" from da Vinci............

[belcantofan159]

@TheMariaBorgia

That's true. Or like comparing coke and champagne..

[LohengrinT]

@TheMariaBorgia

yes but Gruberova's rest of the opera is like someone trying to walk without feet :))

[jovi1715]

non sapevo che Ambra Angiolini avesse debuttato nell'opera...

[belcantofan159]

Netrebko has a unique voice and this piece is sung nicely (though her technique is somewhat lacking precision). However, it cannot (and should not) be compared with the approaches and interpretations of legendary singers like Callas and Gruberova.

[AlexV1408]

Gorgeous...and this is my opinion;)

[Homoclassicus]

Her "Al dolce guidami" was marvelous, and her timbre sounded absolutely brilliant and beautifully languid. At least to me Gruberova's voice since the late 2000's sounds extremely whiteish and sort of weak, and there is always the problem that she attacks the notes, especially when in piano singing, from a lower pitch and then scoops to a higher tone. And there is also the almost constant sliding through the notes. I love her voice during her prime, but now Netrebko sounds much "healthier".

[belcantofan159]

@Homoclassicus

Netrebko has a unique timbre and overall this is a good performance, but technique and phrasing are far from perfect.

[Homoclassicus]

@belcantofan159 Right. Perfection is hardly attainable in such a difficult aria, but IMO Netrebko's phrasing is very intelligent and attentive to the drama and the words here. As for her technique, she does have some flaws, but in this aria I have heard some divas faring not much better. For instance, Netrebko's trills are much better than Caballé's here (at least in the recording I heard). Anyway, we must grant this is a very good start for someone who's at her very debut in this tricky role.

[Drelnis]

I don't know about you, but I think even Gruberova at 65 sings this better than Anna :P

[asdfopera]

@Drelnis

gruberova has about 20 years of experience in this role though

[MrChannel14]

@Drelnis You see and hear this short clip and comments: " Gruberova sings this better..." ???

You must be an "absolute expert" ...:(

[Drelnis]

@MrChannel14 Well, you can go listen to the "short clip" of Gruberova singing Al Dolce Guidami and then figure for yourself which one has more artistic merit :) And yeah, look at my YouTube channel to see if I really listen to opera or not, lol :D

[MrChannel14]

@Drelnis Thanks for your prompt reply. I myself know Anna Gruberova for example from Humperdinck´s "Hänsel und Gretel" - video with the final scenes at the channel of wskfanclever. But I never would comment that she is better than Anna Netrebko.

My opinion is: Domingo and Pavarotti are (Pavarotti was) both excellent tenors and I believe that people prefer Domingo or Pavarotti to one´s own taste. And the same should apply to great female singers...:)

[Drelnis]

@MrChannel14 I would suggest you look for Gruberova's performances of Zerbinetta, Lucia, Norma, Stuarda and Elvira on YouTube (preferably when she was younger). I can gladly say that she is a vocal miracle and much more of a bel canto artist than Netrebko :) Hansel and Gretel... not exactly Gruberova's performing legacy :D

[Drelnis]

Oh and regarding to the "three tenors", the only one I am big for is Carreras :) He of course did not sing as extensively as Domingo, or was ever as famous as Pavarotti, but the colour of his voice is unmatched. His E Lucevan Le Stelle is the aria that sparked my interest in his voice.

[spqrmor]

@Drelnis Better one Netrebko's trill then all of Gruberova's skill.

[gestas60323]

@spqrmor

what trill??

[spqrmor]

@gestas60323 Any that half-deaf morons can't hear.

[jgdmol4l]

Beautiful singing...and she DID in fact trill here :) overall a great performance.