Anna Yuryevna Netrebko, born in 1971, is a Russian operatic soprano who has become an international star, performing on major stages such as the Salzburg Festival, Metropolitan Opera, Vienna State Opera, Royal Opera, and La Scala. Rising to prominence after her breakthrough as Donna Anna in Mozart's Don Giovanni at the 2002 Salzburg Festival, she was first discovered and supported by conductor Valery Gergiev at the Mariinsky Theatre. Netrebko gained recognition for her lyric and coloratura roles before moving into dramatic romantic repertoire, including leading roles in Il trovatore and Macbeth, and later focusing on verismo opera. She has been an exclusive Deutsche Grammophon artist since 2003, has received multiple Echo Klassik Awards, was listed among Time magazine's 100 most influential people in 2007, and holds both the People's Artist of Russia and Austrian Kammersängerin titles. Netrebko stands as one of the most successful Russian performers alongside Alla Pugacheva and t.A.T.u.