Mike Walsh Classical Music Correspondent: If you are looking for rags-to-riches stories, or dismiss the tale of Cinderella as being impossibly fanciful, think again. Russian-born (1971) Anna Netrebko is increasingly regarded as heiress to the Crown of Maria Callas and not without good reason.

The American-Greek legendary opera diva was undoubtedly a one-off, Callas was the brightest diamond in a jewel-encrusted tiara. In my opinion, this was because, in addition to her voice, which in fairness had its equals, Maria had enormous charisma. More importantly, where rivals sang their dramas, she lived them. In Tosca, she was Tosca if you get my drift.

Anna, if she wasn’t an opera star would have been a great success as an actress who can actually play her parts with conviction. She believes in her role; she becomes the heroine. To watch her performance is mesmerising but be prepared, you become part of the unfolding drama too. Not into opera? Get yourself a DVD copy of Puccini’s La Boheme in which she performs with Rolando Villazon; I guarantee you will be hooked for life after you have dried your eyes.

While you are at it order a DVD copy of the same opera stars’ L’Elisir d’ Amore (The Elixir of Love). You will become so absorbed in this enchanting tale of rustic romance that you will sing along; and feel grief, uncertainty and joy in equal measure.

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Described as Audrey Hepburn with a voice, Anna airily dismisses the humble start to her career but there is some truth in her being employed in a lowly position at St Petersburg’s famous Mariinsky Theatre. It helps your chosen career if you start where you hope to get noticed. The acclaimed conductor Valery Gergiev did so and after auditioning the personable brunette took responsibility for coaching her.

Fame was her fortune. This was entirely deserved but dropping her Russian citizenship in favour of becoming an Austrian national in 2006 didn’t go down too well in her native country. She said that her doing so was entirely due to the cumbersome process of applying for a visa each time she toured. However, this didn’t count when the Western Alliance imposed sanctions on Russia.

Anna lost her contracts with leading Western companies – one of which is being sued for breaking her contract. Coming from Krasnodar in the Kuban region Anna is likely of Cossack blood. Anna’s honours, awards and nominations are already encyclopaedic; it is enough to say that she became the first opera singer to be named in the TIME 100 LIST: Time Magazine’s list of the most influential people in the world. Ironically, Anna has become bigger than the operas she performs in; accolades don’t come any better.

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