Anna Netrebko Frolics To High Praises in Saint Petersburg

Last month Anna Netrekbo went back to Russia for two performances of Donizetti's L'elisir d'Amore and the reviewers are still talking about it:

Real-life partners Netrebko and Schrott at the Mariinsky (Photo: N. Razina) 

"Stunning bel canto phrasings, impeccable fioritura, vitality and spontaneity — one would think St. Petersburg’s best-loved soprano Anna Netrebko was born to sing the part of Adina, the main character in Gaetano Donizetti’s sparkling opera 'L’Elisir d’Amore' that premiered at the Mariinsky Theater on Jan. 24.... the production has the bare-legged Adina resting atop a pile of hay polishing her nails, indulging in
energetic folk dances and happily fooling around with her fellow peasants. Putting her background in acrobatics to admirable use, Netrebko demonstrated grace and speed that rivaled the sparks of her fiorituras....The unfailingly cheerful singer, whose charms and infectious laugh have won her worldwide admiration, has clearly injected a lot of her personality into the role, leading to speculation that it is light-hearted, jolly, girlish beauties that suit her best, rather than tragic heroines such as that other Donizetti character, Lucia in 'Lucia di Lammermoor.' 'Lucia' was another production imported by the Mariinsky — in January 2009 — especially for Netrebko, on that occasion from the Scottish National Opera." [Source]