In December 2005, it was announced that Netrebko had cancelled her New York recital debut, a program of Russian songs with pianist Malcolm Martineau which had been scheduled for last spring at Carnegie Hall. In a statement issued through Carnegie at the time, Netrebko said that she didn't feel she could prepare properly for such a high-profile performance.

"After much thought, I have asked Carnegie Hall for permission to postpone my recital on March 2, 2006 to a future season," she said. "I have sung very few recitals in my career, and I do not feel artistically ready yet to present a recital program on the great stage of Carnegie Hall. I know that with more recital experience this will change, and I feel a strong responsibility to present only my very best at this great concert hall and to the New York public."

The May 30 program, just added to Carnegie's schedule, will include "Je veux vivre" from Gounod's Rom_o et Juliette,"Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre" from Bizet's Carmen,"Regnava nel silenzio" from Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor,Marfa's aria from Rimsky-Korsakov's The Tsar's Bride, "Cortigiani, vil razza dannata" from Verdi's Rigoletto,Yeletsky's aria from Tchaikovsky's Queen of Spades, Rachmaninoff's art song "Ne poi pri mne, krasavitsa" ("Do not sing to me, fair maiden"), "Nedda! Silvio, a quest'ora" from Leoncavallo's Pagliacci, Igor's Aria from Borodin's Prince Igor, and the final duet from Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin.