BREAKING NEWS!!! Netrebko: "I Am Pregnant With Schrott's Baby"!!
Russian opera star Anna Netrebko is pregnant, she was quoted as saying in an Austrian media report Monday. According to the Austrian weekly News the 36-year-old soprano and her partner, Uruguay-born baritone Erwin Schrott, 35, are expecting their first child in autumn. "We are both very happy that we will be three soon," Netrebko was quoted as saying by News. Her spokesman was not available for comment at the time of writing. Netrebko and Schrott had performed together several times since 2003, but their relationship and subsequent engagement only became public in late 2007.
La Trebka, vain girl as she is, was just tired to hear that we made fun of her newly meaty silhouette, and so she decided to come clean and blame the baby fat instead of unruly eating habits. La Trebkens joins the ranks of Hollywood celebrity like Angelina Jolie, Jamie Lynn Spears, Gwen Stefani, Kate Blanchett, and Nicole Kidman, who all recenly announced pregnancies in the past months.
Let's just hope the baby doesn't look like a Russian Tony Danza
***update***
Reader Anastasia points out:
Don't the professional ballerinas dance well into the end of their second trimesters? Why is she pulling out of her performances so quickly? Exhaustion? Aside from looking chubby lately, is she really even showing? I don't mean to sound so doubtful of her actions, but is it really necessary to immediately quit all future performances like she did?
Answer: to devote more time to eating chocolate!
****update****
The Internets react: in Barcelona, essential Liceu blogger gtl torn t, writes:
Anna Netrebko ha anunciado hoy su embarazo
Viva el embarazo!
*****update*****
Moah opera blog reactions: La Cieca, in her snazzy redesign, joins in the Pregs-Trebs fun.
*****update******
Jessica Duchen blimeys!
She preggers?
It wasn't me.
Posted by: coccodrillo | February 04, 2008 at 04:30 PM
Our Anna was looking seriously heavy at the Opernball, so it's fitting that there's a very startling explaination. I'm a bit in shock, though.
Vienna's going to have a pregnant bride!
Posted by: Miguel | February 04, 2008 at 04:38 PM
Having kept such news so far under the radar until now speaks well of this excellent and private couple. Countless Brava's for her, and a thousand Bravo's for him. Their best collaboration to date! I am immensely pleased for them.
Posted by: CrewMantle | February 04, 2008 at 04:42 PM
I don't believe this! A preggers Anna? At least we know that Schrott is legally separated from his wife at this point, but still, I'm in shock.
Anna as a pregnant bride is so tacky! I hope they wait to get married until after the birth of their baby like Nicole Ritchie and Joel Madden are doing.
I do hope she didn't drink anything at the Opernball this weekend! Anyway, best of luck to the newly pregnant Anna (I'd say she's at least 3 months pregs). Let"S hoepe she's been taking all her vitamins and gets out of Vienna. There's so much cigarette smoke there.
Posted by: Sara Soprana | February 04, 2008 at 04:45 PM
That's it! I'm calliing it a day and going back to sleep! I KNEW there was going to be something really funky about this Monday.
Posted by: number five alive | February 04, 2008 at 04:48 PM
Her b**bs will get HUGE
Posted by: pee wee barnum | February 04, 2008 at 04:53 PM
He's a cad. Plain and simple. Think about his wife.
Posted by: A Real Cad | February 04, 2008 at 04:57 PM
Don't the professional ballerinas dance well into the end of their second trimesters? Why is she pulling out of her performances so quickly? Exhaustion? Aside from looking chubby lately, is she really even showing? I don't mean to sound so doubtful of her actions, but is it really necessary to immediately quit all future performances like she did?
Posted by: anastasia | February 04, 2008 at 04:57 PM
Goodness! I just looked at her schedule, and she is cancelling quite a lot of meaty performances through Salzburg! I also indluded the ROH performances of La Trav that she missed. Look!
Royal Opera House Covent Garden, London
La Traviata / Violetta
January 14, 17, 20, 23, 26 & 29, 2008
Vienna Staatsoper
Manon / title role
April 6, 9, 12 & 15, 2008
Vienna Kozerthaus
I Capuleti e I Montecchi / Giulietta
April 22, 25 & 28, 2008
Opéra national de Paris (debut)
I Capuleti e I Montecchi / Giulietta
May 24, 28 & 31; June 2, 5, 8, 11 & 15, 2008
Ehrenhof, Schloss Schoenbrunn, Vienna
Concert with Plácido Domingo & Rolando Villazón
June 27, 2008
Passionstheater Oberammergau
Concert with Rolando Villazón
July 19, 2008
Salzburg Festival
Roméo et Juliette / Juliette
August 2, 5, 9, 12, 15, 18, 22 & 25, 2008
Posted by: anastasia | February 04, 2008 at 05:02 PM
I'm feeling slightly brained by this too. Still, I've got a lot of respect for Erwin/Tony - an excellent Figaro opposite (the also lovely) Miah Persson and great opposite, as well as on top of, Anna in Don Giovanni. I remember the girl next to me at DG was at least as lecherous about him as I was about Anna - his bare chest clearly a perfect match for her black velvet dress. So no hard feelings Erw, just a vast, thwarted melancholic void. L'chaim!
Posted by: giuseppewagner | February 04, 2008 at 05:08 PM
She is a shiksa. Why, Erwin?
That is all.
Posted by: Shlomotion | February 04, 2008 at 05:14 PM
How truly wonderful. What a beautiful, talented and lucky baby they'll have.
Posted by: Chevalier | February 04, 2008 at 05:35 PM
I hope the baby doesn't inherit her bad skin and his greasy hair. *ducks for cover* I kid, I kid. Mazel tov to those two crazy lovers.
Posted by: JDFan | February 04, 2008 at 05:35 PM
I understand it to be the fashion of the moment to assualt and attack other commentors who one finds not in line with their perfect thinking (even though open comments are meant as an opportunity to respond to a post of a blogger). Personally I find this sort of behaviour tasteless and moronic.
However.....
Does it MATTER a dime if Miss Netrebko determines to cancel her performances so that she may enjoy her pregnancy OUT of the noxious public eye? (heaven forbid anyone here would be so rude as to catcall her on upcoming weight gains)
Just WHAT is tacky about celebrating marriage vows while Miss Netrebko is with child? To be so puritanical and judgemental to think so can only be though of as ridiculously small minded in 2008.
And who CARES if Mr. Schrott is ONLY separated from his wife. Does the particular timing make this childs coming any less beautiful of an event to the two people most concerned?
Honestly OC.. U need to hang out more with people who have lives of their own.....
Posted by: CrewMantle | February 04, 2008 at 05:36 PM
Is it puritanical to find extremely tacky the dumping of one's wife in order to sleep with a hotter coworker?
This accidental pregnancy doesn't make the whole story less tacky.
Posted by: A Real Cad | February 04, 2008 at 05:52 PM
Boys, girls, behave!
Let's all agree we may disagree on the finer points here, but it's a win-win situation (unless you're Erwin's wife, yes, OK): if you like Anna, you're happy for her and her bew baby. If you don't like her, she's going to sing less, so you'll be happy too!
OK?
OK.
Posted by: OperaChic | February 04, 2008 at 05:56 PM
Who knows what the back stories really are and who cares? Schrott has been separated from his wife for a long time. Netrebko went back and forth about wanting a child but perhaps the biological alarm clock sounded loudly and clearly this time. My hope is that they take parenting and marriage seriously, and give this baby love, roots, and wings.
Posted by: Donna Anna | February 04, 2008 at 06:33 PM
P.S. As a mother of two,I can say that every woman experiences a pregnancy differently. I would wager that no two pregnant ballerinas are on the same schedule for morning sickness or stamina. Same for opera singers, journalists, museum educators, waitresses, presidential candidates....
Posted by: Donna Anna | February 04, 2008 at 06:42 PM
What's with those Eastern block women , (Kozena, Netrebko) choosing a dude they find fit for their image/ career, and immediately getting pregnant by him without too much thinking involved ?...
Posted by: knowbody | February 04, 2008 at 07:06 PM
It isn't important, not in 2008, that AN is with baby, whether out of wedlock or not. What's important (and reason for rejoicing) is the Russian coquette's cancellations. The powers that be will hopefully begin reassigning those projects to truly interesting and superior sopranos (and artists) such as, say, Ana Maria Martinez.
Posted by: Marshie | February 04, 2008 at 07:32 PM
With Anna sidelined with the baby, this would be the perfect time for a Gheorghiu comeback. HEAR THAT ANGELA? Now is your time to shine! That is, unless Angela decides to "1 up" her competition and beg for twins from JK. Oh yeah, I went there!
I can't wait to see this baby. Autumn cannot come soon enough. Do you think we'll have bidding wars in the Austrian gossip magazines like they do for Hollywood celebrity spawn on the covers of the American gossip rags? Maybe Trebs can quit singing and just live off the profit from her baby pictures instead?
Posted by: Bower Jones | February 04, 2008 at 08:09 PM
I don't believe this is true. Goddesses may have children, but have you ever heard of one being pregnant? Neither have I. :-)
P.S. To all Anna-grudgers: I doubt she is going to cancel many of the scheduled performances...!
Posted by: Swiss-Sherlock | February 04, 2008 at 08:13 PM
Welcoming a new little one is always great news,it is "The News ". Think of what it means for her in a life where all the care is devoted to her voice: This is real life without rehearsal! She will gain from motherhood more passion and love, so will sing better and look even nicer after childbirth.I am really happy for the three of them. And I look forward to seeing her one day in Europe or who knows at the Met. From what I see she is never putting on airs like some Diva... All the best to Anna and babe to come !
Posted by: Maguy | February 04, 2008 at 08:49 PM
oc's photos were brutally honest, and some comments were just brutal. but what a lame coverup for packing on the kgs after eating too much cake. next they will have to pretend to be amazed by the overly long pregnancy term. Start the singing lessons in the womb. we are 20 years away from another operasuperstar.
Posted by: deadtenors | February 04, 2008 at 08:50 PM
Waiting another 20 years for a opera superstar? Have we already forgot about the daughter he already has who may become one before this baby?! How soon we forget the already made family. Separated or not.
I just don't understand why people want to hurry things along so much without thinking. They follow their passions instead of their minds. Oh well...I wish them the best and I do hope that his wife and them can all have a wonderful extended family,
Posted by: Kasna | February 04, 2008 at 09:30 PM
Forget about her overall weight gain! No wonder her cleavage was jumping out of her dress at the Opernball. I am partially worried that la Anna won't bounce back in form after the baby. I hope it's not the case, and she goes right back to where she left off. What a big week with all the breaking opera news. First Florez's fishbone, and now Anna's pregnancy! I hope that's all we have in store for the rest of February, but it looks like anything goes!
Posted by: katrina222 | February 04, 2008 at 10:12 PM
I have a great idea: Netrebko and Schrott should have a double wedding in Lima with Florez and Trappe. I'd pay more to attend the nuptuals than I did to see Netrebko at the Royal Opera House! That would be great fun for everyone. And OC, of course, should get front row privileges and report the going-ons.
Posted by: tertrabrit | February 05, 2008 at 12:02 AM
I am just amazed - amazed - that such a soprano actually bypasses her PR staff and admits something from the heart -- truthful,
undeniable, undevious, no subtext, so human,
and lacking any tinge of meanness!!!
I see some consideration for others and colleagues, by that Russian, that's certainly
lacking from many, if not most of her female peers .... mazel tov indeed....
Posted by: jpcd | February 05, 2008 at 07:19 AM
You guys are all so lucky that jealousy doesn't kill.
Anna, you're the gratest, enjoy your pregnacy and your handsom boyfriend, we'll wait to hear again your wonderful singing!
Posted by: Papagena | February 05, 2008 at 06:09 PM
hey OCs!
honestly - i must admit i've trully enjoyed the comments of others on this particular topic. hilarious how peeps can have diff opinions - the best wishes and not so great ones. OMG! you've got a variety of critics in d hauz! i guess this is what makes this blog quite entertaining.
this preggy news justifies the plump look, the cancellations etc. let's leave it at that, yeah! SP
Posted by: flipstinger | February 05, 2008 at 08:08 PM
Guys, guys! First off, we have no idea whether (soon to be ex?) Mrs. Schrott left Mr. Schrott or the other way round. Secondly, we don't know whether there are reasons Netrebko wants to cut down on her already hectic schedule. Maybe Schrott wants to enjoy the pregnancy too? After all, they are normal people, and as accomplished singers have been booked for years and years in advance. We also don't know whether this is Netrebko's first pregnancy, whether she has had problems in the past, etc. etc. etc. I'm not saying it is so, we just don't know. As for her weight gain, I've had pregnant friends who became HUGE (and I mean HUGE) as of the second month. And it wasn't all overeating, it may also have been water retention. Petite friends gained as much as 60-70 pounds during a pregnancy. A friend recently lost 30 pounds within the first two weeks after delivery without going on a diet, and she is still losing the 23 or so remaining pounds. It has always been so with all her pregnancies. Also: some pregnancies are more tiring than others. Who knows what is going on? And maybe, just maybe Netrebko wants to rest. I'm sure she's not doing it in order to get on anybody's nerves. Her body, her kid, her choice....
Posted by: Sara | February 06, 2008 at 11:26 PM
At 36 it is better for her health and for the health of her future child if she is home during her pregnancy. Trans-Atlantic flights are hard enough for all pregnant women, I'm sure, let alone vigorous festival schedule, rehearsals, etc. Show some compassion, ladies. Not every 36-year-old pregnant woman would hop the plane and expose herself to turbulence (how about that above Canada or Britain, hm ;) - ever tried??), travel-related jetlegs, and all the notious 'niceties' that pregnancy gives us women. It is surprising why would people post complaining comments based on a total lack of sentiment.
Posted by: OB Doc | February 22, 2008 at 07:37 AM