Hometown: Krasnodar, Russia
Birthday: September 18, 1971
Residences: St. Petersburg, Russia; New York, NY; Vienna, Austria
Formal Education: St. Petersburg Conservatory
Mentors: Soprano Renata Scotto and conductor Valery Gergiev
Debut on stage: At age 16 as a supernumerary - the back half of a Firebird in Le Coq d’or
Major role debut: At age 22 - Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro at the Mariinsky Theatre
North American debut: In 1995 - Lyudmila in Glinka's Ruslan and Lyudmila at the San Francisco Opera
Metropolitan Opera debut: In 2002 - Natasha in War and Peace
Recent recordings: Duets album with Rolando Villazón and Russian Album (both on Deutsche Grammophon)
Film and TV appearances: Princess Diaries II (playing herself), 60 Minutes, Good Morning America, CNN, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, among others
Notable Firsts: First opera singer to be named to the TIME 100 list; Duets album holds the record for best European debut for a classical album (No. 3 on German pop charts)
Charitable Involvement: Honorary Director of the Russian Children’s Welfare Society and Global Ambassador to Austrian-based children’s charity SOS-Kinderdorf
Parents: Larissa (deceased) and Yuri
Siblings: Natasha (older sister)
Father’s occupation: Geologist
First job: Washing floors at Mariinsky Theatre (Kirov Opera)
First voice teacher: Tamara Novichenko
Early successes: Gymnastics
Early failures: Basketball and computers
Philosophy: ”Russians always need a little ‘shit’ in our lives - something to be concerned or worried about. If everything is good and we seem completely happy, then we become suspicious!”
Likes: Being with friends, shopping, reading fashion magazines, seeing movies, dancing, and eating
Dislikes: Long trips on airplanes, computers, golf (she tried it), and talking about business
Favorite actor/actress: Brad Pitt / Vivian Leigh
Favorite movie: Dracula (Bram Stoker)
Greatest recent non-professional accomplishment: Won a can-can competition at a night club in St. Petersburg in 2004
Music she listens to: Justin Timberlake, Robbie Williams, Christina Aguilera, Black Eyed Peas
What she would do if she were not an opera singer: ”I would be a surgeon or a painter”
Favorite food: ”Sushi – no, everything”
Favorite drinks: Red wine; champagne
Favorite book: The Master and Marguerite (Bolgakov); Gone with the Wind (Mitchell)
