Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Anna Netrebko. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Anna Netrebko is one of opera’s leading stars. She is a stunning soprano who sweeps audiences off their feet with her beauty and incredible voice. The magazine ‘Musical America’ said she is “a genuine superstar for the 21st century” and was named 'Musician of the Year' for 2008. Netrebko also won the prestigious People's Artist of Russia prize in 2008.
Netrebko was born in Russia in 1971. She studied at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, while working there as a floor cleaner and doing odd jobs. She auditioned for the Kirov Opera and impressed conductor Valery Gergiev. He became her vocal mentor and guided her to her operatic stage debut in 1994. In 1993, she won the Glinka Vocal Competition in Moscow.
In 1995, Netrebko graduated from St. Petersburg Conservatory and made her sensational US debut at the San Francisco Opera. She built up a reputation for her creative and dynamic performances in Russian operatic roles. In 2002 Netrebko made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York and signed a recording contract with Deutsche Grammophon. She had become an opera superstar.
Netrebko has sung at the great opera houses all around the world and has expanded her repertoire to include most of the opera classics. She has picked up dozens of awards, including the Classical BRIT Award as Singer of the Year in 2004. Netrebko is also frequently seen on the cover of fashion magazines like ‘Vogue’. In 2006, she became an Austrian citizen.
245 words
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted biographies.
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SYNONYM MATCH
Match the words from the article on the left with their synonyms on the right. Are your answers the same as other students’?
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
leading
a.
tried out
2
incredible
b.
overawed
3.
genuine
c.
top
4.
auditioned
d.
real
5.
impressed
e.
trainer
6.
mentor
f.
amazing
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
sensational
g.
collected
8.
reputation
h.
range
9.
dynamic
i.
regularly
10.
repertoire
j.
stunning
11
picked up
k
energetic
12
frequently
l
name
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
sweeps audiences
a.
St. Petersburg Conservatory
2
won the prestigious
b.
up dozens of awards
3.
She studied at the
c.
up a reputation
4.
doing odd
d.
off their feet
5.
He became her vocal
e.
fashion magazines
6.
She built
f.
mentor
7.
signed a
g.
People's Artist of Russia prize
8.
expanded her
h.
jobs
9.
She has picked
i.
recording contract
10.
frequently seen on the cover of
j.
repertoire
LISTENING GAP FILL
Anna Netrebko is ______________ leading stars. She is a stunning soprano who sweeps audiences ______________ with her beauty and incredible voice. The magazine ‘Musical America’ said she is “a ______________ for the 21st century” and was named 'Musician of the Year' for 2008. Netrebko ______________ prestigious People's Artist of Russia prize in 2008.
Netrebko was born in Russia in 1971. She studied at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, while working there as a floor cleaner and ______________. She ______________ the Kirov Opera and impressed conductor Valery Gergiev. He became her ______________ and guided her to her operatic ______________ 1994. In 1993, she won the Glinka Vocal Competition in Moscow.
In 1995, Netrebko graduated from St. Petersburg Conservatory and made her sensational US debut at the San Francisco Opera. ______________ reputation ______________ and dynamic performances in Russian operatic roles. In 2002 Netrebko made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York ______________ recording contract with Deutsche Grammophon. She had become _________________.
Netrebko ______________ great opera houses all around the world and has expanded ______________ to include most of the opera classics. She has _________________ of awards, including the Classical BRIT Award as Singer of the Year in 2004. Netrebko ________________ seen on the cover of fashion magazines like ‘Vogue’. In 2006, she became an Austrian citizen.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics:
Anna Netrebko is one of opera’s / opera leading stars. She is a stunning soprano who brushes / sweeps audiences off their feet with her beauty and incredible voice. The magazine ‘Musical America’ said she is “a genuinely / genuine superstar for the 21st century” and was named 'Musician of the Year' for 2008. Netrebko also won the prestigious / prestige People's Artist of Russia prize in 2008.
Netrebko was born in Russia in 1971. She studied / studying at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, while working there as a floor cleaner and doing odd / even jobs. She auditioned for the Kirov Opera and impressed conductor Valery Gergiev. He became her vocalist / vocal mentor and guidance / guided her to her operatic stage debut in 1994. In 1993, she won the Glinka Vocal Competition in Moscow.
In 1995, Netrebko graduated from St. Petersburg Conservatory and made / did her sensational US debut at the San Francisco Opera. She built in / up a reputation for her creative and dynamic performances in Russian operatic rolls/ roles. In 2002 Netrebko made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York and signed a recording contact / contract with Deutsche Grammophon. She had become an opera superstar.
Netrebko has sang / sung at the great opera houses all around the world and has inflated / expanded her repertoire to include most of the opera classics. She has / was picked up dozens of awards, including the Classical BRIT Award as Singer of the Year in 2004. Netrebko is also frequently / frequented seen on the cover of fashion magazines like ‘Vogue’. In 2006, she became an Austrian citizen.
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
one of opera’s lndiega stars
2.
sspewe audiences off their feet
3.
“a ngienue superstar for the 21st century”
4.
People's Artist of Russia przie
Paragraph 2
5.
She utesdid at the St. Petersburg Conservatory
6.
working there as a floor ealcren
7.
She uoaietiddn for the Kirov Opera
8.
He became her vocal mrneot
Paragraph 3
9.
made her sensational US etbud
10.
She liubt up a reputation
11.
creative and nciaymd performances
12.
siedng a recording contract
Paragraph 4
13.
the opera lsccasis
14.
She has picked up dnsezo of awards
15.
Netrebko is also qfulrneety seen on the cover of fashion magazines
16.
she became an Austrian einzcti
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
contract with Deutsche Grammophon. She had become an opera superstar.
( )
and incredible voice. The magazine ‘Musical America’ said she is “a genuine superstar for the 21st century” and was named
( )
'Musician of the Year' for 2008. Netrebko also won the prestigious People's Artist of Russia prize in 2008.
( )
cleaner and doing odd jobs. She auditioned for the Kirov Opera and impressed
( )
conductor Valery Gergiev. He became her vocal mentor and guided her to her operatic stage
( )
San Francisco Opera. She built up a reputation for her creative and dynamic performances in Russian operatic
( )
debut in 1994. In 1993, she won the Glinka Vocal Competition in Moscow.
( )
Netrebko was born in Russia in 1971. She studied at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, while working there as a floor
( )
Netrebko has sung at the great opera houses all around the world and has expanded her repertoire to include
( )
Singer of the Year in 2004. Netrebko is also frequently seen on the cover of
( )
most of the opera classics. She has picked up dozens of awards, including the Classical BRIT Award as
( )
fashion magazines like ‘Vogue’. In 2006, she became an Austrian citizen.
( )
In 1995, Netrebko graduated from St. Petersburg Conservatory and made her sensational US debut at the
( )
roles. In 2002 Netrebko made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York and signed a recording
( 1 )
Anna Netrebko is one of opera’s leading stars. She is a stunning soprano who sweeps audiences off their feet with her beauty
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
of leading Netrebko one opera’s stars is
2.
sweeps beauty her with feet their off audiences
3.
the century genuine for 21st a superstar
4.
cleaner odd there floor doing working a and jobs as
5.
became mentor her He vocal
6.
Opera sensational at Francisco her debut San made US the
7.
had She superstar opera an become
8.
world the around all houses opera great the
9.
up of She picked dozens awards has
10.
an became she , 2006 In citizen Austrian
DISCUSSION (Write your questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.
What do you know about Anna Netrebko?
2.
Would you like to meet Anna Netrebko?
3.
What would you like to know about Anna Netrebko and why?
1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information about Anna Netrebko. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. ANNA NETREBKO POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Anna Netrebko. Show your poster to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all find out similar things?
4. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Anna Netrebko. Include an imaginary interview with her. Write about what she does every day and what she thinks about.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
5. LETTER: Write a letter to Anna Netrebko. Ask her three questions about her life. Give her three suggestions on what she should do in her future. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your “Anna Netrebko expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
leading
a.
top
2
incredible
b.
overawed
3.
genuine
c.
real
4.
auditioned
d.
tried out
5.
impressed
e.
excited
6.
mentor
f.
trainer
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
sensational
g.
stunning
8.
reputation
h.
name
9.
dynamic
i.
energetic
10.
repertoire
j.
range
11
picked up
k
collected
12
frequently
l
regularly
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
sweeps audiences
a.
off their feet
2
won the prestigious
b.
People's Artist of Russia prize
3.
She studied at the
c.
St. Petersburg Conservatory
4.
doing odd
d.
jobs
5.
He became her vocal
e.
mentor
6.
She built
f.
up a reputation
7.
signed a
g.
recording contract
8.
expanded her
h.
repertoire
9.
She has picked
i.
up dozens of awards
10.
frequently seen on the cover of
j.
fashion magazines
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Check your answers in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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