Anna Netrebko is one of opera’s leading stars. She is a stunning1 soprano who sweeps audiences off their feet with her beauty and incredible voice. The magazine ‘Musical America’ said she is “a genuine superstar for the 21st century” and was named 'Musician of the Year' for 2008. Netrebko also won the prestigious2 People's Artist of Russia prize in 2008.
Netrebko was born in Russia in 1971. She studied at the St. Petersburg Conservatory3, while working there as a floor cleaner and doing odd jobs. She auditioned4 for the Kirov Opera and impressed conductor Valery Gergiev. He became her vocal5 mentor6 and guided her to her operatic stage debut7 in 1994. In 1993, she won the Glinka Vocal Competition in Moscow.
In 1995, Netrebko graduated from St. Petersburg Conservatory and made her sensational8 US debut at the San Francisco Opera. She built up a reputation for her creative and dynamic performances in Russian operatic roles. In 2002 Netrebko made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York and signed a recording contract with Deutsche Grammophon. She had become an opera superstar.
Netrebko has sung at the great opera houses all around the world and has expanded her repertoire to include most of the opera classics. She has picked up dozens of awards, including the Classical BRIT Award as Singer of the Year in 2004. Netrebko is also frequently seen on the cover of fashion magazines like ‘Vogue’. In 2006, she became an Austrian citizen.
1 stunning
adj.極好的;使人暈倒的
參考例句:
His plays are distinguished only by their stunning mediocrity.他的戲劇與眾不同之處就是平凡得出奇。
The finished effect was absolutely stunning.完工后的效果非常美。
2 prestigious
adj.有威望的,有聲望的,受尊敬的
參考例句:
The young man graduated from a prestigious university.這個(gè)年輕人畢業(yè)于一所名牌大學(xué)。
You may even join a prestigious magazine as a contributing editor.甚至可能會(huì)加入一個(gè)知名雜志做編輯。
3 conservatory
n.溫室,音樂(lè)學(xué)院;adj.保存性的,有保存力的
參考例句:
At the conservatory,he learned how to score a musical composition.在音樂(lè)學(xué)校里,他學(xué)會(huì)了怎樣譜曲。
The modern conservatory is not an environment for nurturing plants.這個(gè)現(xiàn)代化溫室的環(huán)境不適合培育植物。
4 auditioned
vi.試聽(tīng)(audition的過(guò)去式與過(guò)去分詞形式)
參考例句:
None of the actresses we have auditioned is suitable. 我們?cè)嚶?tīng)的這些女演員都不合適。 來(lái)自《簡(jiǎn)明英漢詞典》
What is that, from some script you auditioned for in the '40s? 什么玩意兒是你40年代試的那些劇本嗎? 來(lái)自電影對(duì)白
5 vocal
adj.直言不諱的;嗓音的;n.[pl.]聲樂(lè)節(jié)目
參考例句:
The tongue is a vocal organ.舌頭是一個(gè)發(fā)音器官。
Public opinion at last became vocal.終于輿論嘩然。
6 mentor
n.指導(dǎo)者,良師益友;v.指導(dǎo)
參考例句:
He fed on the great ideas of his mentor.他以他導(dǎo)師的偉大思想為支撐。
He had mentored scores of younger doctors.他指導(dǎo)過(guò)許多更年輕的醫(yī)生。
7 debut
n.首次演出,初次露面
參考例句:
That same year he made his Broadway debut, playing a suave radio journalist.在那同一年里,他初次在百老匯登臺(tái),扮演一個(gè)溫文而雅的電臺(tái)記者。
The actress made her debut in the new comedy.這位演員在那出新喜劇中首次登臺(tái)演出。
8 sensational
adj.使人感動(dòng)的,非常好的,轟動(dòng)的,聳人聽(tīng)聞的
參考例句:
Papers of this kind are full of sensational news reports.這類(lèi)報(bào)紙滿(mǎn)是聳人聽(tīng)聞的新聞報(bào)道。
Their performance was sensational.他們的演出妙極了。
9 metropolitan
adj.大城市的,大都會(huì)的
參考例句:
Metropolitan buildings become taller than ever.大城市的建筑變得比以前更高。
Metropolitan residents are used to fast rhythm.大都市的居民習(xí)慣于快節(jié)奏。
10 recording
n.錄音,記錄
參考例句:
How long will the recording of the song take?錄下這首歌得花多少時(shí)間?
I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想給你放一下彩排的錄像。
11 repertoire
n.(準(zhǔn)備好演出的)節(jié)目,保留劇目;(計(jì)算機(jī)的)指令表,指令系統(tǒng), <美>(某個(gè)人的)全部技能;清單,指令表
參考例句:
There is an extensive repertoire of music written for the flute.有很多供長(zhǎng)笛演奏的曲目。
He has added considerably to his piano repertoire.他的鋼琴演奏曲目大大增加了。