"I love a challenge. Someone has to be a vanguard, someone has to throw the pebble into the creative waters and allow the ripples to cause reverberation. The consequence of inaction or, even worse, of doing the same old thing is that nothing changes. Surely this cannot be a characteristic of the divine nature of art. Anna and I were aware that many opera purists might find it difficult appreciating classical opera arias in a new light. The combining of tradition with a contemporary edge, the music video style presentation, the lip-synching, and interpretations that did not always follow the actual story of each opera were risks we chose to take. But we never wavered in our love for the opera and our joyful desire to ‘make art’. We relished the collaboration with brilliant international artists and we hope that music lovers of all ages and tastes can enjoy the result." - Vincent Paterson.

Vincent Paterson’s camera and imagination have given Anna Netrebko the scope to embrace five totally different characters within about an hour’s screen time. Revealing her true personality through an extensive and intimate interview on childhood, education, career and private matters, she then convinces the viewer as a gifted performer in her portrayals of Mozart’s Donna Anna, Bellini’s Amina, Gounod’s Marguerite, Dvorák’s Rusalka, and Puccini’s Musetta - all lip-synched by Anna to her CD recording with the Wiener Philharmonic under conductor Gianandrea Noseda. These five arias have been especially staged for the camera with Vincent Paterson who also worked for Madonna and Björk - as the director of this special. The visual language of this portrait reflects a contemporary approach of introducing one of the most exceptional sopranos of our time to a wider audience.

Shortlisted for the 44th Rose d’Or
Category: Arts & Specials

Originally produced as a one-hour TV special, this unique programme of Anna Netrebko has also been released as a DVD in May 2004.

"The Woman - The Voice" immediately entered the German DVD charts - as Number 1, ahead of pop stars Beyonce and Robby Williams.
> German music-DVD charts
> Austrian music-DVD charts

Press articles:
> Salzburger Nachrichten 26/07/2003
> The Los Angeles Times 02/11/2003
> The New York Times 16/11/2003
> Focus 15/2004
> RIA Novosti 01-04-2004
> ARD_BR 09-05-2004
> Münchner Abendzeitung 12/05/2004
> Salzburger Nachrichten 14/05/2004
> Hamburger Morgenpost 14/05/2004
> Neue Kronenzeitung 16/05/2004
> ZDF 17-05-2004
> Neue Kronenzeitung 26/05/2004
> Die Welt - Interview Paterson 27-05-2004
> Sonntagszeitung 30-05-2004
> Das Opernglas 06/2004 - Interview Paterson
> Die Welt am Sonntag 27-06-2004
> Neue Zeitschrift für Musik 09/10-2004
> Klassik Akzente 2-2004
> Spectakel - Interview mit Anna Netrebko 2004
> Spectakel - Interview mit Bernhard Fleischer 2004

> buy now (DVD)