Austria, Russian soprano Anna Netrebko attended a special reception in the Solitaire hall of the Mozarteum to celebrate a remarkable ten years recording for Deutsche Grammophon, and to launch her new album, Verdi.

Fresh from her triumphant role-debut performance as Verdi’s Giovanna d’Arco in Salzburg the evening before, Ms Netrebko – the best-selling soprano of the 21st century, and widely recognised as one of the most accomplished vocalists of her generation – delighted the audience of specially-invited international media guests, city dignitaries and Festival organisers, as she answered questions on her new album and future plans from British journalist Warwick Thompson.

Released around the world this Friday 9 August – and already certified “Gold” in Austria – the new Verdi album is Ms Netrebko’s first studio offering in over five years. Marking the great Italian composer’s 200th anniversary in 2013, it sees the star soprano showcase arias from Macbeth, Giovanna d’Arco, I Vespri Siciliani, Don Carlo andIl trovatore.

It is now a decade since Ms Netrebko’s remarkable performance on the Salzburg stage as Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, and her regular appearances since then quickly became the hottest tickets of the Festival season. The highlights have been many, but particularly memorable was 2005’s unforgettable performance in La traviata, alongside Rolando Villazón, which went on to become a global best-seller on DVD and on disc.

On 23 September Ms Netrebko opens in the Metropolitan Opera’s Eugene Onegin, singing Tatiana, conducted by Valery Gergiev. The production will be shown in international cinemas on 5 October. In coming months she makes important role debuts: in November she sings Leonora in Verdi’s Il trovatore at the Berlin Staatsoper, and next June she plays Lady Macbeth at the Bavarian State Opera, crowning a Verdi season with two of the great roles that feature on her Verdi album.