Anna Netrebko earned international acclaim in both the opera world and the German pop charts for her highly controlled, crystal-clear soprano voice and her charismatic stage presence. Netrebko was born in Krasnodar, Russia, on September 18, 1971. She attended the Conservatory of St. Petersburg, where she worked as a floor cleaner in her spare time. It was in virtue of her custodial work, not to mention her vocal talent, that she attracted the attention of conductor Valery Gergiev. He became her mentor, and helped Netrebko land her debut role as Suzanna in Le Nozze di Figaro. ~ TiVo Staff