On top of the world

Anna Netrebko,  the world famous Russian soprano, has a voice so wonderful she makes me cry. Her purity, power and emotion just carries me to tears - and that can be embarrassing if I'm just listening to her CDs in the car !

She's notorious for failing to appear, especially at Covent Garden. Last year she suddenly decided not to take a role in "Faust", and there have been other instances of her crying off at short notice.  (I am not blaming all opera singers for falling ill etc.... but Anna is a true Diva)

It was hard to get tickets for the general rehearsal of "La Boheme".  She was scheduled along with Joseph Calleja ("the Maltese tenor") who has such a rich and chocolatey tenor voice that he, too, can carry you away on a wave of emotion.

I managed to get just one ticket, in the highest point of the auditorium - the Upper Slips - and in a position where you can only see half of the stage at best.  (But a snip at £5)

I love the atmosphere at rehearsals. The blip today is of a young opera enthusiast just looking happily over the tops of Covent Garden on a pretty sunny day.

Anna Netrebko did appear, in person, and in splendid voice.

I got through tissues in Act 1, and even more in Act III.  I don't usually cry at the end, but I did today.  (And so did the enormous, strapping Glaswegian guy sitting to my left)

There's going to be a live cinema relay of this production on Wednesday 10th June, and I recommend it totally.

Extra photo is of the auditorium from my lofty vantage point. And the final curtain call (much zoomed)

Oh, and while we're on the subject of Russian female singers - remember you heard it first here when Russia win the Eurovision Song Contest this Saturday......