Anna Netrebko: Mozart - Don Giovanni, 'Don Ottavio... Or sai chi l'onore'

Anna Yuryevna Netrebko (Russian: Анна Юрьевна Нетребко, born 18 September 1971) is a Russian operatic soprano. She now holds dual Russian and Austrian citizenship and currently resides in Vienna. She has been nicknamed "La Bellissima" by fans. Netrebko was born in Krasnodar (Russia), in a family of Kuban Cossack background. While a student at the Saint Petersburg conservatoire, Netrebko worked as a janitor at Saint Petersburg's Mariinsky Theatre. Later, she auditioned for the Mariinsky Theatre, where conductor Valery Gergiev recognized her from her prior work in the theater. He subsequently became her vocal mentor. Under Gergiev's guidance, Netrebko made her operatic stage debut at the Mariinsky at age 22, as Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro. She went on to sing many prominent roles with the Kirov Opera, including Amina in La sonnambula, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, and Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor. In 1994, she sang the Queen of the Night in Die Zauberflöte with the Riga Independent Opera Avangarda Akadēmija under conductor David Milnes. In March 2007, Netrebko announced that she would be an ambassador for SOS Children's Village in Austria, and be a sponsor for the Tomilino village in Russia... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Netrebko Lyrics & English Translation DONNA ANNA Don Octavio, oh help me! DON OCTAVIO What disturbs thee? DONNA ANNA I cannot comprehend it yet! DON OCTAVIO My dearest, say, what hath happened? DONNA ANNA Oh, heaven! Oh, heaven! That was the murderer of my dear Father! DON OCTAVIO What say'st thou? DONNA ANNA No longer can I doubt - his words at parting - His soft and honey'd voice - all bring before me, Past the chance of a doubt, The vile intruder, who dar'd into my chamber. DON OCTAVIO Heav'n, is't possible, That 'neath the sacred mantle of long friendship... But proceed, the whole, oh, tell me, Of this dark adventure. DONNA ANNA Shadows of midnight all around me were gathered; In my own quiet chamber Sitting alone, By misadventure and dreaming, When all at once there came in, wrapp'd in a mantle, A man, whom for the moment I had taken for thee. But soon I had discovered How great was my error! DON OCTAVIO Horror, continue! DONNA ANNA Silent he drew near me, And my hand would caress, Quick I withdrew it, and then he seized me... I struggled; No one was near, one hand upon my mouth he placed, My screaming to stifle, with the other he press'd me Close in his grasp - I scarcely could resist him. DON OCTAVIO Miscreant! And then? DONNA ANNA At last my dread, My horror of the bastardly ruffian lent strength Unwonted for the moment, I struggled with tortuous writhings fearfully, With an effort I flung him from me. DON OCTAVIO Oh, joy! That sav'd thee! DONNA ANNA Aloud then I clamour'd for assistance, Call'd on the household, he sought to fly, But boldly I pursued him into the street, That we might trace him, (Becoming of my assailant assailer,) 'Twas there that my father straight-way challeng'd him, And the villain, by whose strength he was easily overpower'd, Stay'd not his guilty madness, gave him the deathblow. The wretch now thou knowest, Who sought my betraying, And vengeance thou owest My father's, my father's foul slaying. For justice I sue thee; I ask of thy troth, I ask of thy troth. Remember when wounded, His lifeblood was flowing, Unsolaced, unshriven, He heard not, he heard not my crying, My heart will be riven, If thou break thy oath. A link to this wonderful artists personal Website: http://www.annanetrebko.com/ Please enjoy! I send my kind and warm regards,