"Russians always need a little shit in our lives. If everything is good and we seem completely happy, then we become suspicious of that." This is Russian opera star Anna Netrebko's philosophy -- slightly incongruous for one who, at a glance, seems to have it all and to be enjoying every bit of it.
She is booked out for years in advance and in demand in opera houses around the world. She has a contract with Deutsche Gramophone to add five solo recordings to the two that she has already released to great acclaim.
Audiences flock to her performances and critics have described her variously as "a miracle" and "the next Callas." Her MTV-style DVD of opera arias even ousted the likes of Britney Spears and Beyonce from the top of the European charts.