Celebrating the 200th anniversary of Giuseppe Verdi's birth, critically acclaimed soprano Anna Netrebko explores five heroines from his operas: Lady Macbeth from Macbeth, Joan from Giovanna d'Arco, Elena from I Vespri Siciliani, Elisabetta from Don Carlo, and Leonora from Il Trovatore. As might be expected of an album of psychological studies, Netrebko delves into the darker places of these women's souls, and her singing is as intense as her characterizations. Supported by her longtime associate, conductor Gianandrea Noseda, and accompanied by the Orchestra of the Teatro Regio Torino, Netrebko reappears on Deutsche Grammophon after an absence of five years, and ten years after her debut album, Opera Arias, which was also recorded with Noseda. Despite the long delay in recording, Netrebko shows no loss of power, focus, or control, and she presents herself in the prime of her career, as a complete artist who commands respect through her integrity and emotional honesty. Netrebko is joined by tenor Rolando Villazón in "Quel son, quelle preci" from the Finale of Il Trovatore, so fans of both superstars should take special note of this dramatic track. This 2013 album has been released in two formats, a standard disc, and a deluxe limited edition that offers the CD with a retrospective on DVD.