The opening night of 'I Puritani' at New York's Metropolitan Opera was a resounding success for its famous Russian star.  The Bellini opera was specially selected for opera singer Anna Netrebko.

“The Puritans”, a three-act opera by famous Italian composer Vincenzo Bellini, was revived especially for Anna Netrebko. Set during the English Civil war of the 1640’s, I Puritani is the story of a woman named Elvira Walton who faces the prospect of losing the man she truly loves. It’s a drama of love and politics with a particularly famous madness scene. It could be called a 'typical' opera were it not for Netrebko. 

The singer’s favourite roles are the most dramatic ones – those where she can show the whole gamut of emotions.  Netrebko has tackled some of opera's most comples characters – from the fatally innocent Gilda in “Rigoletto’ to the manipulative femme fatale, Norina, in ‘Don Pasquale”.

Like with some of the characters she portrays, Anna Netrebko's real life entrance into the opera world was similarly dramatic. Born in Krasnodar in Russia, she studied at the Conservatoire in St. Petersburg. She watched rehearsals at the Marinksy Theatre where she was mopping floors to make ends meet. When she auditioned for the Mariinsky Theatre, the Director, Valery Gergiev, recognised her and exclaimed: “But can you sing?”

It was as a leading soprano at the Kirov Theatre, that Ms Netrebko was first introduced to the great world of opera.

Netrebko's voice, coupled with her looks, have brought her fame in other realms: gracing the pages of fashion magazines, as a spokeswoman for a famous jewellry house.

Anna Netrebko made her debut here at the Metroplitan Opera four years ago. Now she's back  on one of the world's grandest stages and in an opera especially produced for her. Ms Netrebko will, on stage, transform herself into a different woman, but with a voice that remains unforgettably her own.