Anna Netrebko has performed at the opening of the Olympics in Sochi.
The soprano performed the Olympic Anthem as the Olympic flag was presented during the ceremony at the Fisht Olympic Stadium.
The Olympic Anthem—also known as the Olympic Hymn—is traditionally performed at the opening and closing ceremonies of Olympic games. The hymn was written by Greek composer Spyridon Samaras and is usually performed in the language of the host country. Netrebko sang the hymn in Russian accompanied by a male chorus.
Netrebko is not the first opera singer to perform the hymn at the Olympics. Plácido Domingo performed the song at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.
The Russian soprano is the second opera singer in last the week to perform at a major sporting event. Renee Fleming sang the National Anthem at the Superbowl becoming the first Opera singer to perform at the game.
Netrebko is one of the busiest singers in opera today. She recently sang at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in Donizetti's "L'Elisir D'Amore" and in Tchaikovsky's "Eugene Onegin." The soprano next takes the stage at the Teatro dell'Opera Roma in the title role of Puccini's "Manon Lescaut." She will also perform at the Royal Opera House, Vienna State Opera and Baden Baden in Gounod's "Faust." Netrebko is also scheduled to perform at the Bayerische Opera in Verdi's "Macbeth" and at the Salzburg in Verdi's "Il Trovatore."
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