People’s Deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Lytvyn’s Bloc, First deputy head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee for Security and Defence Sergiy Grynevetskyy believes Anna Netrebko’s concert in Odesa was a unique cultural event for the city.

“The concert of the possessor of one of the most beautiful voices in the world — the inimitable operatic Soprano Mrs Anna Netrebko on the stage of Odesa Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet has become a unique cultural event for the city”, said Mr Grynevetskyy.

“The event of such level puts Odesa not only at the level of Ukrainian, but cultural capitals of the world”, he added.

The orchestra was directed by the Italian conductor Claudio Vandelli, while the diva’s stage partner was Erwin Schrott performing in Italian La Scala.

The singer performed a cavatina of Lyudmila from the opera Ruslan and Lyudmila, Margarita’s waltz from Faust, Rusalka’s aria from the opera of the same name, Lauretta’s aria from Gianni Schicchi by Giacomo Puccini. Erwin Schrott presented his greatest hit — Leporello’s aria from Don Giovanni and Mephistophele’s couplets from Faust. The star couple also performed duets from the L'elisir d'amore, Porgy and Bess, and The Merry Widow.

“I am very pleased to have organized this beautiful cultural event”, Mr Grynevetskyy stressed.

Anna Netrebko (born 18 September 1971) is an operatic soprano. She now holds dual Russian and Austrian citizenship and currently resides in Vienna. In 2003, Netrebko released her first studio album, Opera Arias. The Russian Album was released in 2006, accompanied by the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra, conducted by Valery Gergiev. In November 2008, she released her fourth album for Deutsche Grammophon, a collection of songs entitled Souvenirs.