Anna does her Black Friday shopping

Anna does her Black Friday shopping

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norman lebrecht

December 02, 2014

While you were at Walmart and Tesco, she was hitting Chopard…

netrebko chopard

They closed the store for her.

netrebko chopard 2

And him.

netrebko chopard3

All done.

 

Comments

  • Olaugh Turchev says:

    Envy is a poor master…

  • Simon S. says:

    Thanks for reminding me why I was a commie when I was young.

  • Frank says:

    Unless that’s a fake fur, it appears that a poor animal had to die for her vanity too…

  • Frank says:

    That’s equally vulgar in my book. But I don’t claim to keep track of every fur-wearing artist.

  • Lane Bellamy says:

    Netrebko was not shopping. She was making a personal appearance at the opening of a new shop as brand ambassador for Chopard. She is a paid spokesperson for the jewelry line and so attending such events is part of her job.

  • Christy says:

    I’m just sick of this woman. She puts opera back 25 years – both in singing technique and in actions. She is the opposite of what the public (esp in the US) wants in its “divas.” She is the opposite of what opera needs. By her age, just about every other diva is reaching out to young singers, promoting new composers, finding unknown pieces. But not Anna. No, not her.

    • sdReader says:

      Ignorant comment.

      • Christy says:

        In what sense?

      • Christy says:

        I am simply a regular American opera goer. It’s not my career or vocation. I can only judge by what I see from my lowly perch. She doesn’t do recitals. Doesn’t make her self accessible. Shows off her exorbitant lifestyle at every turn. Says things like opera singers should not express opinions about any topic. Doesn’t reach out to students. Follows a well trod career path.

        Sure, diehard opera fans love her. But, she’s failed to get any traction with the regular public here despite a major media blitz at one point, for a reason, I think.

        Compare her to other opera stars who are experimenting, reaching out and trying new things – she follows the old school form (except she likes to twirl while she’s singing).

        That’s just the – perhaps, in your opinion, ignorant – view from below.

        • Urania says:

          Anna is like a child in Disney Land….she got into a position she does not know how to handle….lets have fun as long as it does last…that might be her motto…I can see opera without her…her voice is nothing special.

    • Lane Bellamy says:

      By her age, just about every other diva is reaching out to young singers, promoting new composers, finding unknown pieces.

      Who, for example?

      • Christy says:

        Bartoli, Fleming, DiDonato, Horne, Upshaw…. and many, many more.

        • Lane Bellamy says:

          Four Americans and one singer who is sui generis: hardly a representative sample.

        • Christy says:

          I became an opera fan at the tail end of te Kanawa and Horne’s times (although te Kanawa continues to this day). They were accessible. Then, my first real “divas” were Fleming and Bartoli. . They are originals in many ways. Jessye Norman was still singing interesting things, in addition to opera. Callas long before had made her own path. Now, we have a whole generation, from DiDonato to Damrau trying all kinds of things. Can you imagine Netrebko participating in the new AIDS Quilt Songbook CD of original arts songs? But many others did. Or teaching masterclasses at high schools? Or reaching out to political leaders on behalf of classical music? I can’t.

          But these things are essential in today’s opera world.

          • Christy says:

            Our answers crossed. Unfortunately, I am but a lowly American fan. Opera and other classical music is vibrant here in many ways it isn’t in certain European countries. In the UK, crossover singers are all over the television, apparently. Why not real classical singers? Maybe someone should think about that. If it doesn’t matter to anyone that opera is becoming more and more marginalized, then we all should continue to embrace singers who are clearly nothing like “regular” people. I’m not so sure that’s the best idea, but again, I’m just an audience member.

          • Olaugh Turchev says:

            Ah…. those people who count money in others’ pockets…

    • Howard Haimes says:

      Christy,
      You are simply ignorant, arrogant or uninformed. She is a consummate artist always seeking new challenges. Have you ever heard her live? Have you seen how she interacts with the public and her fans. She balances motherhood with a full singing engagement schedule. She does sing recitals (Canary Islands, Abu Dhabi, Villar Center in Vale, CO and many others).

      I have seen nearly all of her performances and spoken with on a number of occasions. She is simply and allegedly the artist to chase.

      As far as mentoring other artists, why does Domingo still sing? I understand his Operalia program has benefit, but he simply should move aside and give others a chance

  • Howard Haimes says:

    Norman,
    How can you assume to know her political inclinations and commitments? That is crusty and arrogant on your part. It is true that Gergiev, a Putin supporter, did much to advance her career.

  • Howard Haimes says:

    Netrebko just released Strauss’ Last 4 Songs, has previously sung Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff Leider (In the Still of the Night), has sung 2 requiems and performed Opera in Italian and Russian.

    If you think about where she came from, her rise to stardom is meteoric! I applaud her courage, voice, uncanny acting, sense of fashion and style and ability to balance all this with a 6 year sold son. Brava, may we enjoy many more years.

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