Opera stars

Here's something to keep you up to date

Ian Griggs in the Independent tells us that slimmer and more active opera stars are bringing back the crowds. Here is his list

Marina Poplavskaya, 30
Russian soprano. Appeared as Tatyana in Tchaikovsky's 'Eugene Onegin' at the Royal Opera House in March and replaced Anna Netrebko as Donna Anna in 'Don Giovanni'. Briefly married to the US bass baritone Robert Hale, with whom she remains friends. Her voice has been described by critics
as 'turbocharged'.

Danielle de Niese, 29
US soprano, born in Australia. Appeared as Cleopatra in Handel's 'Giulio Cesare' at Glyndebourne in 2005 and returned there this year in the title role in Monteverdi's 'L'Incoronazione di Poppea'. Seen by some
directors as the great hope for connecting with a young audience.

Jonas Kaufmann, 39
German tenor. Appeared as Jose in 'Carmen' at the Royal Opera House in 2006 and as Alfredo in 'La Traviata' at the Metropolitan in New York. Described by critics as the finest tenor his country has produced in 50
years.

Anna Netrebko, 36
Russian soprano. Appeared as Donna Anna in 'Don Giovanni' in 2002 and, last year, as Susanna in 'Le Nozze di Figaro'.

Erwin Schrott, 36
Uruguayan bass baritone who played title role in 'Le Nozze di Figaro'. Has just had a baby boy with his partner Netrebko.

Deborah Voigt, 47
US soprano whose weight, then 25 stone, prevented her playing title role in 'Ariadne on Naxos' in 2004 at the Royal Opera House. Is now 16 stone
and has returned to the role.

I have Netrbko and she is simply too powerful a singer, swept me off my feet