Anna Yuryevna Netrebko (Russian: Анна Юрьевна Нетребко, born 18 September 1971) is a Russian operatic soprano. She now holds dual Russian and Austrian citizenship and currently resides in Vienna. She has been nicknamed "La Bellissima" by fans. Netrebko was born in Krasnodar (Russia), in a family of Kuban Cossack background. While a student at the Saint Petersburg conservatoire, Netrebko worked as a janitor at Saint Petersburg's Mariinsky Theatre. Later, she auditioned for the Mariinsky Theatre, where conductor Valery Gergiev recognized her from her prior work in the theater. He subsequently became her vocal mentor. Under Gergiev's guidance, Netrebko made her operatic stage debut at the Mariinsky at age 22, as Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro. She went on to sing many prominent roles with the Kirov Opera, including Amina in La sonnambula, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, and Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor. In 1994, she sang the Queen of the Night in Die Zauberflöte with the Riga Independent Opera Avangarda Akadēmija under conductor David Milnes. In March 2007, Netrebko announced that she would be an ambassador for SOS Children's Village in Austria, and be a sponsor for the Tomilino village in Russia... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Netrebko & Jonas Kaufmann (born 10 July 1969) is a German operatic tenor. Although he has sung a variety of leading roles including both the Mozart and Wagner repertoire, he is particularly known for his performances in spinto roles such as Don José in Carmen, Cavaradossi in Tosca, Maurizio in Adriana Lecouvreur, and the title role in Don Carlos... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonas_Kaufmann Lyrics & English Translation ALFREDO Let's drink from the joyous chalice Where beauty flowers ... Let the fleeting hour To pleasure's intoxication yield. Let's drink To love's sweet tremors - To those eyes That pierce the heart. Let's drink to love - to wine That warms our kisses. ALL Ah! Let's drink to love... to wine That warms our kisses. VIOLETTA With you I would share My days of happiness; Everything is folly in this world That does not give us pleasure. Let us enjoy life, For the pleasures of love are swift and fleeting As a flower that lives and dies And can be enjoyed no more. Let's take our pleasure! While its ardent, Brilliant summons lures us on. ALL Let's take our pleasure Of wine and Singing and mirth Till the new day Dawns on us in paradise. A link to this wonderful artists personal Website: http://www.annanetrebko.com/ A link to this wonderful artists personal Website: http://www.jonas-kaufmann.com/ Please enjoy! I send my kind and warm regards,