Great Performances had a chance to sit-down with opera diva Anna Netrebko, star of Robert Dornhelm’s film-for-television adaption of Puccini’s La Boheme, premiering on PBS on December 23rd at 9pm (check local listings). Senior Publicist Jitin Hingorani chatted with Netrebko about her experience shooting the film, her recent pregnancy, and her ideas on how opera has changed over the years. Netrebko (Mimi) is joined by her on-screen partner Rolando Villazon (Rodolfo) in the film; they are often referred to as “opera’s golden couple.”
21 Responses to “Interview with Anna Netrebko”
Leave a Reply
Please note that the THIRTEEN editorial staff reserves the right to not post comments it deems to be inappropriate and/or malicious in nature, as well as edit comments for length, clarity and fairness. No solicitations or advertisements will be allowed. Users may link to other Web sites relevant to discussion, but most often links to commercial Web sites will not be permitted.
This opera is just wonderful. Bravo to PBS & Great Performances. I own DVD and can watch yet again and again.
The subtitles of this wonderful performance were dreadful and mostly illegible. And the running of the credits- cast, production, etc.- was ridiculous, useless. And now no such information on this web site!!!
Shame!!!!
The subtitles of this wonderful performance were dreadful and mostly illegible. And the running of the credits- cast, production, etc.- was ridiculous, useless. And now no such information on this web site!!!
Shame!!!! And this transmission was a mess. You get worse by the second!!!
Where is a listing of the cast!!! I agree the credits at end were impossible to read!
Huge musical dissapointment. Bertrand De Billy’s conducting was ever flat. The conductor had difficulties to maintain control when more then two singers were performing. The emotional content was not present in the orchestra’s playing. The director’s work was a nice try.
As my husbnd I watched this wonderful and beautiful perfomance of these great artists,we felt thrilled and privileged to be able watch the opera in our living room on a snowy night. Thank you PBS! Also,we, too, wished that the credits would have given more informtion about each of the singers and the production.
What a wonderful holiday treat—to find La Boheme on PBS tonight as we listen to the wind bringing in our expected Christmas blizzard! Altogether exquisitely enjoyable. Thank you, PBS!
I loved the opera. Thank you pbs. Credits were useless as well as the subtitles, but I know the opera. I came to pbs web site to find out more about the two principals and nothing available. Disappointed.
What a great early Christmas present! Thank you, PBS! The filming was great. I loved the “in your face” close-ups. It was a pleasure to watch and hear.
The singers were wonderful, but it was rude and
disrespectful to not give us the credits at the
end in readable form and to not ever let us know
who the conductor or the other singers were. We
are real people and deserving of respect.
Can someone please provide who were the rest of the crew? especially musetta, I really wanna know her name, she was great!!! everyone was great, except the main guy, did not like him much
The singing was excellent. The conductor, however, gave a rather schmaltzy account of this scintillating score.
Really bad was the tarting up of Mimi. She is supposed to be a modest seamstress. She more makeup more appropriate for a hooker.
Best in the cast was the Musetta.
The lip-stynching was horribly misaligned with the sound.
The camera work was disturbingly restless.
The Zefferelli production was much more faithful to the drama (and the music). Jose Carreras sang circkes around Villazon.
The post-opera credits were idiotic.
Who was in the cast? Who was the conductor?
I thought the program was superb. All principals were near perfect, but the sub-titles and credits left much to be desired
This was one of the most impressive opera presentations I have seen:the characters interacted with each other in a warm, loving way and with humor in spite of their difficult existence; so reminiscent of some of de Maupassant’s short stories of down and outers in Paris in the middle of the 19th century. Everyone trying to fend for oneself yet understanding the need for companionship and forgiveness. Ms.Netrebko and Mr. Villazon were extraordinary, but all the singers were excellent. I think Musetta could have been “let loose” a bit more, but was excellent. The attention of the diners and the crowd was very realistic and added to the dramas as they occurred. Mr. Dornhelm is the opera director we need nowadays; one who understands that to engage the audience you need not only excellent singers, but excellent acting,realistic settings and a feeling that everyone in the scene is engaged with the central actors. Bravo! Brava!
Yes, this was really a wonderful program to enjoy this holiday season. I was just so mesmerized. Meanwhile, I am still trying to find the CREDITS to know othwe performers, directors, etc. but have not been able to find at all. I wish the website should have the access for those detail information. For those who is interestsed, it is important to know more about this producetion. I agree with Norman (#2 and other comments) the subtitles were pretty difficult to catch eyes although many knows this opera so well.
Bravo Well Done
Mr. Schechter says it all. Carreras has the mezza voce he learned from DeStefano, something that Villazon lacks (wonderful as he is).
Nicole Cabell plays Musetta. She is WONDERFUL!
Even though it was way past my bed-time I was “hooked”! But the subtitles in the snow scene
were terrible and the credits were way, way, too fast. Still I enfoyed everybit of it! thanks pbs
All of the cast names and details are available at http://www.imdb.com.
I thought it was great!
Mi chiamano Mimi!! THAT’S MY SONG!!