Classical Music Artists

Sharing Artistopia
 
Music Is Life @ Artistopia.com

Independent Music Artist:   Sign In  |  Register

Home Music Indie News Discussion Resources Shop Thursday, February 09, 2012
  
 
 
  
 

Renee Fleming

Music Home >>  Music Genres  >> Classical Music
 
  
 

< < < < <
> > > > >
More Info on Renee Fleming Similar Classical Music Search Artistopia

Biography


Renée Fleming (born February 14, 1959) is an American soprano specializing in opera and lied er. Fleming has a full lyric soprano voice. Anthony Tommasini|Tommasini, Anthony : http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9400E7DB1439F937A2575AC0A961958260& scp=109& sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22& st=nyt "For a Wary Soprano, Slow and Steady Wins the Race", The New York Times , September 14, 1997
Fleming has performed coloratura , lyric soprano|lyric , and lighter spinto soprano repertoires. She has sung roles in Italian, German, French, Czech, and Russian, aside from her native English. She also speaks fluent German and French, along with limited Italian. Her signature roles include Countess Almaviva in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro|Le nozze di Figaro , Desdemona in Verdi's Otello , Violetta in Verdi's La traviata , the title role in Dvorák's Rusalka (opera)|Rusalka , the title role in Massenet's Manon , the title role in Massenet's Thaïs (opera)|Thaïs , the Marschallin in Richard Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier , and the title role in Arabella .

A Richard Tucker Award winner, she regularly performs in opera houses and concert halls worldwide. In 2008 she was awarded the Swedish Polar Music Prize for her services in music.

Conductor Sir Georg Solti said of Fleming, "In my long life, I have met maybe two sopranos with this quality of singing; the other was Renata Tebaldi ."

Early life and education


A daughter of two music teachers, Fleming was born on Valentine's Day in Indiana, Pennsylvania , and grew up in Rochester, New York .

She studied with Patricia Misslin at the Crane School of Music at the State University of New York at Potsdam . While at SUNY Potsdam, she took up singing with a jazz trio in an off-campus bar called Alger's. The jazz saxophone|saxophonist Illinois Jacquet invited her on tour with his big band , but she chose instead to continue with graduate studies at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York with voice teacher John Maloy.

She won a Fulbright Program|Fulbright Scholarship , which enabled her to work in Europe with Arleen Auger|Arleen Augér and Elisabeth Schwarzkopf . This was followed by further studies at the Juilliard School , which she sang jazz gigs to pay for.Brady, James: http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2004/edition_11-07-2004/in_step_with_0 " In Step With: Renée Fleming" Parade Magazine , November 7, 2004 While at Juilliard she sang in roles with the Juilliard Opera Center , appearing as Musetta in Puccini's La bohème and the Wife in Gian Carlo Menotti|Menotti 's Tamu-Tamu , among others. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=950DE0DD1638F932A25751C1A965948260& scp=1& sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22& st=nyt The New York Times , 1983 http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9B0DE5D9163CF935A15757C0A961948260& scp=4& sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22& st=nyt The New York Times , April 26, 1987

Career


1980s to 1990s


Fleming first began performing professionally in smaller concerts and with small opera companies while still a graduate student at Juilliard. She sang frequently in the Musica Viva concert series sponsored by the New York Unitarian Church of All Souls during the 1980s. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9C04E7DF123BF93AA25751C0A962958260& scp=48& sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22& st=nyt The New York Times , February 19, 1994 In 1984 she sang nine songs by Hugo Wolf in the world premiere of Eliot Feld 's ballet Adieu , which she again performed in 1987 and 1989 at the Joyce Theater . http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9D00E2DA1438F935A25757C0A962948260& scp=2& sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22& st=nyt The New York Times , April 16, 1984 In 1986 she sang her first major operatic role, Konstanze in Die Entführung aus dem Serail , at the Salzburg Landestheater. Two years later she portrayed Thalie, Clarine and La Folie in Jean-Philippe Rameau's Platée with the Piccolo Teatro Dell Opera . http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=940DE5DE173EF936A25753C1A96E948260& scp=8& sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22& st=nyt The New York Times , October 15, 1988

Fleming's first major break came in 1988 when she won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions|Metropolitan Opera Auditions at age 29. That same year she sang the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro in her debut with Houston Grand Opera . She reprised the role the following year in her debut at the Spoleto Festival . http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=950DE5DF1739F933A05756C0A96F948260& scp=11& sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22& st=nyt The New York Times , May 30, 1989 Also in 1989, Fleming made her debut with the New York City Opera as Mimi in La Bohème and her debut with the Royal Opera, London|Royal Opera at Covent Garden as Dirce in Cherubini's Médée (Cherubini)|Médée . She also was awarded a Richard Tucker Career Grant and won the George London Competition . http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=950DE3DE143AF934A15757C0A96F948260& scp=10& sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22& st=nyt The New York Times , April 27, 1989 http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=950DE0DE1E3DF93BA2575BC0A96F948260& scp=12& sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22& st=nyt The New York Times , August 18, 1989

In 1990 she was once again honored by the Richard Tucker Music Foundation but this time with the highly coveted Richard Tucker Award . http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9C0CEFD71F3BF931A35756C0A966958260& scp=14& sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22& st=nyt The New York Times , May 2, 1990 That same year she made her debut with Seattle Opera in her first portrayal of the title role in Rusalka (opera)|Rusalka , a role that she has since recorded and reprised at many of the world's great opera houses. She also sang for the 50th anniversary of the American Ballet Theatre in their production of Eliot Feld's Les Noces and returned to the New York City Opera to sing both the Countess in Le nozze di Figaro and Micaela in Bizet's Carmen . In addition, she sang the title role in Donizetti's Lucrezia Borgia (opera)|Lucrezia Borgia with the Opera Orchestra of New York . http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9C0CE4DA1739F93AA35756C0A966958260& scp=15& sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22& st=nyt The New York Times , May 9, 1990 http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9C0CE3D81F3EF931A3575BC0A966958260& scp=16& sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22& st=nyt The New York Times , August 2, 1990

In 1991, Fleming made her Metropolitan Opera and San Francisco Opera debut portraying Countess Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro . Fleming was originally not scheduled to make her Met debut until the next season, but ended up making it earlier than expected by stepping in to replace Felicity Lott who had become ill. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9D0CE7D6123FF932A15750C0A967958260& scp=21& sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22& st=nyt The New York Times , March 21, 1991 She returned to the Met later that year to sing Rosina in the world premiere of John Corigliano 's The Ghosts of Versailles . That same year she made her Carnegie Hall debut performing music by Maurice Ravel|Ravel with the New York City Opera Orchestra, sang Rusalka with Houston Grand Opera, and made her debut at the Tanglewood Music Festival as Ilia in Mozart's Idomeneo with Seiji Ozawa and the Boston Symphony Orchestra . http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9D0CEEDE113CF93BA25751C0A967958260& scp=20& sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22& st=nyt The New York Times , February 18, 1991 http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9D0CE0D81131F935A25754C0A967958260& scp=23& sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22& st=nyt The New York Times , July 16, 1991

In 1992, Fleming made her debut with Grand Théâtre de Genève as Fiordiligi in Mozart's Così fan tutte . http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9E0CEED61F3BF936A35752C0A964958260& scp=28& sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22& st=nyt The New York Times , January 5, 1992 She also sang the role of Anna in Boieldieu's La dame blanche at Carnegie Hall with the Opera Orchestra of New York and the role of Fortuna in Mozart's Il sogno di Scipione at Alice Tully Hall , as part of Lincoln Center 's Festival of Mozart Operas in Concert . http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9E0CE6DB163AF932A35751C0A964958260& scp=31& sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22& st=nyt The New York Times , February 1, 1992 http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9E0CEEDD1131F933A1575BC0A964958260& scp=32& sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22& st=nyt The New York Times , August 20, 1992

In 1993, Fleming sang the role of Alaide in Bellini's La straniera with the Opera Orchestra of New York, made her debut at the Rossini Opera Festival in the title role of Rossini's Armida (Rossini)|Armida , and her debut with the Lyric Opera of Chicago in the title role of Carlisle Floyd's Susannah . http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9F0CE6D71E3BF933A25751C0A965958260& scp=35& sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22& st=nyt The New York Times , February 10, 1993 She also gave her New York City solo recital debut at Alice Tully Hall to great acclaim. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9F0CE7DA143AF932A05750C0A965958260& scp=36& sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22& st=nyt The New York Times , March 31, 1993 She also sang her first Pamina in Mozart's The Magic Flute at the Metropolitan Opera and performed Berg's Three Excerpts from Wozzeck and Lulu Suite with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and James Levine . http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9F0CE4D8163DF930A25757C0A965958260& scp=37& sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22& st=nyt The New York Times , April 13, 1993 http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9F0CE7DF173DF93BA35756C0A965958260& scp=38& sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22& st=nyt The New York Times , May 8, 1993 She also sang the world premiere of Joan Tower 's Fanfare with Pinchas Zukerman and the Aspen Chamber Symphony http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9F0CE7D9173CF935A25756C0A965958260& scp=39& sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22& st=nyt The New York Times , May 16, 1993 and the world premiere of John Kander 's Letter From Sullivan Ballou at the Richard Tucker Awards ceremony. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9F0CE4D91F3CF935A25751C1A965958260& scp=45& sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22& st=nyt The New York Times , December 16, 1993

In 1994, Fleming sang her first Desdemona in Verdi's Otello and her first Ellen Orford in Britten's Peter Grimes with the Metropolitan Opera. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9B04E6D81631F935A25757C0A962958260& scp=50& sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22& st=nyt The New York Times , April 16, 1994 She also made her debut at the Glyndebourne Festival Opera|Glyndebourne Festival as the Countess in Le nozze di Figaro . http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9801E7D91E3BF930A35755C0A962958260& scp=51& sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22& st=nyt The New York Times , June 3, 1994 She also performed the role of Madame de Tourvel in the world premiere of Conrad Susa's The Dangerous Liaisons and sang the role of Salome in Massenet's Hérodiade with the San Francisco Opera . http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9C07E6DE143BF930A2575AC0A962958260& scp=54& sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22& st=nyt The New York Times , September 13, 1994

In 1995 Fleming portrayed the Marschallin in Der Rosenkavalier with Houston Grand Opera , sang Hérodiade with the Opera Orchestra of New York at Carnegie Hall, and sang Rusalka with the San Francisco Opera. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=990CE4DA1E3DF935A25751C0A963958260& scp=60& sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22& st=nyt The New York Times , February 16, 1995 She also sang Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte with Solti at Royal Festival Hall and gave a lauded recital at the The Morgan Library & Museum|Morgan Library . http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9904E4D81639F931A35752C1A963958260& scp=72& sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22& st=nyt The New York Times , November 2, 1995 She further signed an exclusive recording contract with the London/Decca label, making her the first American singer in 31 years to do so ( Marilyn Horne was the last). http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9406E7DD1639F937A25750C0A960958260& scp=76& sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22& st=nyt The New York Times , March 14, 1996

In 1996, Fleming sang the title role in Rossini's Armida and the role of Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte at the Met and performed the soprano solos in the Verdi Requiem with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=990DE5D61339F933A25752C0A960958260& scp=73& sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22& st=nyt The New York Times , January 10, 1996 She also sang her first Marguerite in Gounod's Faust (opera)|Faust with Chicago Lyric Opera and sang the role of Donna Anna in Mozart's Don Giovanni with the Paris Opera at the reopening of the Palais Garnier with Sir Georg Solti . She was also chosen by Solti to be the first recipient of the Solti Prize, to be given to an outstanding younger singer. The award is given by the Académie du disque lyrique in a ceremony equivalent to the Grammy Award s. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9A03E5DA1639F931A25750C0A960958260& scp=75& sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22& st=nyt The New York Times , March 12, 1996 Fleming also made debut at the Bayreuth Festival as Eva in Wagner's Meistersinger . http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9400E7DB1439F937A2575AC0A961958260& sec=& spon=& pagewanted=2 The New York Times , September 14, 1997 Her other performances that year included recitals at the Edinburgh International Festival and at Alice Tully Hall . http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9C04E3D91E39F932A35755C0A960958260& scp=81& sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22& st=nyt The New York Times , June 1, 1996

In 1997, Fleming portrayed the Marschallin in Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier and her first Manon at the Opéra Bastille , receiving glowing reviews. She reprised the role at the Metropolitan Opera along with singing Marguerite in Faust and Rusalka. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9B01E0DE133BF937A15750C0A961958260& scp=104& sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22& st=nyt The New York Times , March 24, 1997 She also performed in concert twice with the New York Philharmonic , first under the baton of Zubin Mehta performing a selection of opera arias, and second singing Mozart's Exsultate, jubilate and three songs of Richard Strauss with Kurt Masur . She also performed at the Ravinia Festival with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and performed Samuel Barber 's Knoxville: Summer of 1915 with the Orchestra of St. Luke's under André Previn . She gave several recitals as well at such notable places as the Salzburg Festival . http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9907E2D61E30F931A35752C0A961958260& scp=92& sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22& st=nyt The New York Times , January 2, 1997

In 1998, Fleming sang the title role in Richard Strauss' Arabella with Houston Grand Opera and the Countess with Lyric Opera of Chicago. She sang the title role in Carlisle Floyd 's Susannah and Countess Almaviva in a landmark production of Le nozze di Figaro at the Met; the Mozart production also starred Cecilia Bartoli , Susanne Mentzer , Dwayne Croft , Danielle de Niese , and Bryn Terfel and was broadcast on Public Broadcasting Service|PBS ' Great Performances . http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9803E4DB173EF932A35750C0A96E958260& sec=& spon=& pagewanted=2 The New York Times , March 1, 1998 She made her Carnegie Hall recital debut. She sang Richard Strauss's Four Last Songs with Claudio Abbado and the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra at the Salzburg Festival. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9C06E3DA1331F936A25750C0A96E958260& sec=& spon=& pagewanted=5 "Spring–Summer '98; 'Happy Birthday' and Variations", p. 5, Vernon Kidd, The New York Times , March 15, 1998
She originated the roles of Blanche DuBois in the world première André Previn 's A Streetcar Named Desire (opera)|A Streetcar Named Desire with the San Francisco Opera . http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9C0DE7DA163EF930A2575AC0A96E958260& scp=142& sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22& st=nyt The New York Times , September 13, 1998 Fleming also performed Strauss' Four Last Songs with the Berlin Philharmonic . In what Fleming has described as "the worst night of her operatic life" she was roundly booed on the opening night of Lucrezia Borgia by Donizetti in July, 1998 at La Scala.

In 1999, Fleming appeared at the Bavarian State Opera as the Marschallin in Der Rosenkavalier . She returned to Carnegie Hall to great success with a concert of German lieder. She also performed in recital with André Previn and made her debut at the Schleswig-Holstein Festival. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9A04E4DA1E39F93AA15752C0A96F958260& scp=169& sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22& st=nyt The New York Times , January 29, 1999 She also won a Grammy Award for her CD The Beautiful Voice''. She also performed the title role in Handel's Alcina with Les Arts Florissants (ensemble)|Les Arts Florissants and conductor William Christie (musician)|William Christie and with the Lyric Opera of Chicago . http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9A01EFD8113EF934A15754C0A96F958260& scp=189& sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22& st=nyt The New York Times , July 27, 1999 She also sang the title role in Charpentier's Louise (opera)|Louise with San Francisco Opera and Théâtre du Capitole . http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9C00E3DA1E38F93AA1575BC0A96F958260& scp=190& sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22& st=nyt The New York Times , August 29, 1999 Fleming closed out the year by performing for President Bill Clinton at the White House for a Christmas celebration. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9E03E6DE133EF935A35751C1A96F958260& scp=197& sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22& st=nyt The New York Times , December 6, 1999

2000s


In 2000, Fleming appeared at the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera and at Covent Garden as the Marschallin in Der Rosenkavalier and sang the title role in Donizetti's Lucrezia Borgia (opera)|Lucrezia Borgia with the Opera Orchestra of New York. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9406E5DD113FF935A35751C0A9669C8B63& scp=212& sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22& st=nyt The New York Times February 6, 2000 She also appeared as Donna Anna in Mozart's Don Giovanni at the Salzburg Festival and the Met. She performed with the Orchestra of St. Luke's , under Mark Elder as part of the PBS series Live From Lincoln Center and with the Boston Symphony Orchestra in Haydn's The Creation (Haydn)|Creation under James Levine. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9F0DE1D71E3BF932A15756C0A9669C8B63& sec=& spon=& pagewanted=3 The New York Times , May 21, 2000

In 2001, Fleming sang Desdemona in Otello with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Manon with the Paris Opera, the Marschallin with both the San Francisco Opera and the Met, and Arabella at both the Bavarian State Opera and the Met. She also sang Verdi's Requiem twice, once with the London Symphony Orchestra and once with the New York Philharmonic. Fleming also sang at World Trade Center site shortly after the September 11 attacks .

In 2002, Fleming provided the vocals for Howard Shore 's soundtrack for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King soundtrack. Her singing can be found in the songs "The End of All Things", "Twilight and Shadow" and "The Return of the King" (Original Soundtrack) and "The Grace Of Undómiel", "Mount Doom", "The Eagles" and "The Fellowship Reunited" (The Complete Recordings). She also sang in several concerts in the United Kingdom with Bryn Terfel and gave the most extensive recital tour of her career, singing in dozens of recitals with accompianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet throughout the United States, Europe, Australia, and Asia. In addition, she portrayed the role of Rusalka with Opéra Bastille and Imogene in Il pirata with Théâtre du Châtelet .

In 2003, Fleming sang Imogene in at the Met, the title role in Massenet's Thaïs with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Rusalka at Covent Garden, and Violetta in La traviata with both Houston Grand Opera and the Metropolitan Opera. She also reprised the role of Blanche in Previn's A Streetcar Named Desire at the Barbican Centre in London.

In 2004, Fleming portrayed the title role in Handel's Rodelinda (opera)|Rodelinda , and reprised the roles of Rusalka and Violetta at the Met. She also sang her first Gräfin (Countess) in Capriccio (opera)|Capriccio at the Palais Garnier and performed in concerts with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra , the Philadelphia Orchestra , the Boston Symphony Orchestra , the Los Angeles Philharmonic , and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra among others. She also gave recitals in Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, and the United States and performed in several concerts with Elton John at Radio City Music Hall .

In 2005, Fleming sang the title role in Massenet's Manon at the Met, Desdemona in Verdi's Otello at Covent Garden, and Thaïs in Vienna. She also performed with the Berlin Philharmonic , the London Symphony Orchestra , the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra , the New Jersey Symphony , the Rochester Philharmonic , and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir among several other ensembles.
In 2006, Fleming performed a solo concert at the Lyric Opera of Chicago with Sir Andrew Davis (conductor)|Andrew Davis , sang Violetta in Verdi's La traviata with Los Angeles Opera , and returned to the Met to sing Manon and Rodelinda. She also sang Violetta again in the Metropolitan Opera's touring production to Japan and gave several recitals and concerts throughout the United States, Italy, Russia, and Sweden. She also sang in the Vienna Philharmonic 's concert celebrating Mozart's 250th Birthday which was broadcast live internationally. http://en.epochtimes.com/news/6-9-17/45983.html The Epoch Times, September 2006

In 2007, Fleming sang Violetta with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Tatyana in Eugene Onegin (opera)|Eugene Onegin at the Metropolitan Opera, Arabella with Zurich Opera , and Thaïs at the Théâtre du Châtelet , Royal Opera, London|Royal Opera , Vienna State Opera , and the Liceu . She also performed with over a dozen orchestras including the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra ,the National Symphony Orchestra , the Vancouver Symphony , the Boston Symphony , the San Francisco Symphony , the China Philharmonic Orchestra , and the Los Angeles Philharmonic among others, and performed at numerous music festivals including the Salzburg Festival and the Lincoln Center Festival. She also gave recitals throughout Southeast Asia, Germany, and Switzerland.

In 2008, Fleming sang Violetta and Desdemona at the Metropolitan Opera, the Gräfin in Capriccio at the Vienna State Opera , Tatyana at the Tanglewood Music Festival , and Lucrezia Borgia http://washblade.com/2008/10-31/arts/feature/13507.cfm Coming Full Circle – The Washington Blade at the Washington National Opera .

In 2009, Fleming created the complete version of '' Le temps l'horloge '', the latest work of famous French composer Henri Dutilleux . She sang Violetta at Covent Garden and Thaïs and Rusalka at the Metropolitan Opera, the Marschallin at the Festspiel Baden-Baden|Baden-Baden Festival , the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées and the Metropolitan Opera. She sang a variety of short pieces at Napa Valley's Festival del Sole in California.

During the 2009/2010 Metropolitan Opera season Fleming sang the Marschallin and in Mary Zimmerman 's new production, the first at the Met, of Rossini's Armida (Rossini)|Armida , a role and production she will return to during the Met's 2010/2011 Season along with the Gräfin in Richard Strauss's Capriccio .

In an April 15, 2010, The Wall Street Journal|Wall Street Journal article, Fleming talked about her view of the battle between opera traditionalists and those who want to reinterpret the standards, siding – with some reservations – with the latter. "I'm not a reactionary. I've loved some of these productions when they've been well thought out", she said. "I have no problem with edgy, as long as it's not vulgar or disrespectful of the piece." Still, she said her "classic" image meant that she was unlikely to be asked to perform in such productions. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303695604575182474127585754.html "Renée Fleming: Aria On the Future" by Judith H. Dobrzynski , The Wall Street Journal , April 15, 2010 In the same Wall Street Journal interview, Fleming explained her increasing preference for performing in concerts, rather than opera productions, and said, having learned more than 50 operas, that she is unlikely to learn many more.

Fleming appeared on Good Morning America on June 8, 2010, performing a cover of Muse (band)|Muse 's "Endlessly" from their album Absolution (Muse album)|Absolution .

At the Last Night of the BBC Proms in 2010, Fleming performed songs by Richard Strauss , Antonín Dvorák|Dvorák and Bedrich Smetana|Smetana .

On November 11, 2010, the Charlie Haden Quartet West released the jazz CD Sophisticated Ladies in which Fleming was a guest vocalist on the song "A Love Like This" by Ned Washington and Victor Young .

On December 9, 2010, the Board of Directors of Lyric Opera of Chicago announced that Fleming has been named Creative Consultant, a first in the company’s history. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/10/arts/music/10fleming.html "Fleming Adds New Role, Helping Guide Opera Troupe" by Daniel J. Wakin , The New York Times , December 9, 2010

Personal life


Fleming married actor Rick Ross in 1989, and they have two daughters together; Amelia, born in 1993, and Sage, born in 1995. The couple divorced in 2000, and Fleming has raised their children as a single mother.Barron, James: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9C05E0D9103FF930A35752C1A96E958260& scp=153& sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22& st=nyt "Public Lives" The New York Times , November 3, 1998 On September 3, 2011 Fleming married corporate lawyer Tim Jessell, whom she met on a blind date set up by author Ann Patchett . http://www.artsjournal.com/slippeddisc/2011/09/social-and-personal-renee-fleming-gets-married.html.

Popular recordings


Fleming has released a number of music recordings on the Decca Records|Decca label. In 2000 she was a guest artist alongside the cellist Julian Lloyd Webber and the violinist Gil Shaham on the album Two Worlds (Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin album)|Two Worlds by Dave Grusin and Lee Ritenour . She recorded a jazz album in 2005 entitled Haunted Heart . She appears on the soundtrack of the 2003 film The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King in which she sings in the imagined language Sindarin . Renée Fleming recorded the duet "O soave fanciulla" with Michael Bolton . Her album Dark Hope , released in June 2010, features covers of songs by Leonard Cohen , Band of Horses , Jefferson Airplane and others. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/mar/28/renee-fleming-indie-rock-album "Renée Fleming: Diva goes to the dark side" by Peter Conrad, The Guardian , March 28, 2010

TV, radio and record guest appearances


Fleming has a notable sense of humor. She appeared on the children's show Sesame Street singing a lively rendition of "Caro nome" from Rigoletto , replacing the traditional Italian text with lyrics intended to aid children learning to count.

She has performed several times on Garrison Keillor 's popular Public broadcasting|public radio program A Prairie Home Companion .

Fleming appeared as a "Special Guest Vocalist" on Joe Jackson (musician)|Joe Jackson's 1994 album Night Music (album)|Night Music on the song "Lullaby."

On List of Desert Island Discs episodes (2001–2010)#2005|November 18, 2005 , Fleming appeared as guest on the BBC Radio 4 radio programme Desert Island Discs ; her favourite was Joni Mitchell's 1971 song " River (Joni Mitchell song)|River ". http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/features/desert-island-discs/castaway/3ce72729#p00934fc Renée Fleming at Desert Island Discs

Fleming performed "I'll Be Home For Christmas" on ABC's The View (U.S. TV series)|The View on December 18, 2008.

She performed on January 18, 2009, at We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial , singing the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic " You'll Never Walk Alone " with the combined choirs of the United States Naval Academy .

Repertory


Year (debut) Role Composer Opera Location
1978 Laurie Moss Aaron Copland The Tender Land Crane School of Music – SUNY Potsdam
1979 Alison Gustav Holst The Wandering Scholar Crane School of Music – SUNY Potsdam
1980 Elsie Maynard Gilbert and Sullivan The Yeomen of the Guard Crane School of Music – SUNY Potsdam
1981 Zerlina Mozart Don Giovanni Eastman School of Music
1982 Anne Sexton Conrad SusaTransformations Aspen Music Festival and School
1983 Countess Almaviva Mozart The Marriage of Figaro Aspen Music Festival and School
1983 Musetta Puccini La bohème Juilliard Opera Center
1986 Konstanze Mozart Die Entführung aus dem Serail Salzburg Landestheater
1986 Frasquita Bizet Carmen Virginia Opera
1986 Belle Fezziwig & Laundress,
Martha Cratchit, Rosie
Thea Musgrave A Christman Carol Virginia Opera
1987 the WifeMenotti Tamu-Tamu Juilliard Opera Center
1988 Thalie, Clarine, La Folie Jean-Philippe Rameau Platée Piccolo Teatro Dell Opera
1988 Pamina Mozart The Magic Flute Virginia Opera
1989 Mimì Puccini La bohème New York City Opera
1989 Dircé CherubiniMédée Royal Opera House , Covent Garden
1989 Imogene Bellini Il pirata Opera Orchestra of New York
1990 Rusalka DvorákRusalka Seattle Opera
1990 Micaëla Bizet Carmen New York City Opera
1990 Lucrezia Borgia DonizettiLucrezia Borgia Opera Orchestra of New York
1990 Maria Padilla Donizetti Maria Padilla Opera Omaha
1991 Rosina Corigliano The Ghosts of Versailles Metropolitan Opera
1991 Ilia Mozart Idomeneo Tanglewood Music Festival
1991 Amina Bellini La sonnambula Carnegie Hall
1991 Thaïs MassenetThaïs Washington Concert Opera
1991 Sandrina Mozart La finta giardiniera Paris, Salle Pleyel
1992 La Contessa di Folleville Rossini Il viaggio a Reims Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
1992 Fiordiligi Mozart Così fan tutte Grand Théâtre de Genève
1992 Anna Boieldieu La dame blanche Carnegie Hall
1992 Fortuna Mozart Il sogno di Scipione Alice Tully Hall , Lincoln Center
1992 Tatyana TchaikovskyEugene Onegin Dallas Opera
1993 Armida RossiniArmida Pesaro, Rossini Festival
1993 Donna Elvira Mozart Don Giovanni La Scala
1993 Alaide Bellini La straniera Carnegie Hall
1993 Susannah Floyd Susannah Lyric Opera of Chicago
1993 Lulu Alban BergLulu Metropolitan Concert/ Gala at Ann Arbor, Michigan
1993 Jenufa Leoš Janácek Jenufa Dallas Opera
1994 Desdemona Verdi Otello Metropolitan Opera
1994 Ellen Orford Britten Peter Grimes Metropolitan Opera
1994 Madame de Tourvel Conrad Susa The Dangerous Liaisons San Francisco Opera
1994 Salome Massenet Hérodiade San Francisco Opera
1994 Rosmonda Clifford Donizetti '' Rosmonda d'Inghilterra London
1995 Marschallin R. Strauss Der Rosenkavalier Houston Grand Opera
1995 Amelia Verdi Simone Boccanegra Royal Opera at Covent Garden
1996 Marguerite GounodFaust Lyric Opera of Chicago
1996 Donna Anna Mozart Don Giovanni Opéra national de Paris
1996 Eva Wagner Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg Bayreuth Festival
1997 Manon Massenet Manon Opéra Bastille
1998 Arabella R. Strauss Arabella Houston Grand Opera
1998 Blanche DuBois André PrevinA Streetcar Named Desire San Francisco Opera
1998 Gabriel / Eva Joseph HaydnDie Schöpfung Tanglewood Music Festival
1999 Alcina Handel Alcina Opéra national de Paris
1999 Louise CharpentierLouise San Francisco Opera
2003 Violetta Verdi La traviata Houston Grand Opera
2004 Rodelinda HandelRodelinda Metropolitan Opera
2004 Gräfin R. StraussCapriccio Palais Garnier
2005 Daphne R. StraussDaphne University of Michigan
2010 Hanna Glawari Lehár The Merry Widow Semperoper


Partial discography


CD


  • ''Donizetti: Rosmonda d'Inghilterra Opera Rara 1994

  • Strauss Four Last Songs RCA 1996

  • Visions of Love – Mozart Arias Decca 1996

  • Schubert Lieder Decca 1997

  • Signatures Opera arias By Mozart, Verdi, Britten, Strauss, w. Georg Solti, Decca 1997

  • Elijah (oratorio)| Elijah (Mendelssohn) Decca 1997

  • Rusalka (opera)|Rusalka (1997)

  • A Streetcar Named Desire (opera)|A Streetcar Named Desire (1997)

  • The Beautiful Voice Decca 1998

  • I Want Magic American Opera Arias, Decca 1998

  • Star Crossed Lovers Duets with Plácido Domingo , Decca 1999

  • Strauss Heroines Decca 1999

  • Requiem (Verdi) with Andrea Bocelli , Olga Borodina and Ildebrando D'Arcangelo , conducted by Valery Gergiev , Philips 2001

  • Renée Fleming Decca 2001

  • Night Songs Lieder by Debussy, Fauré, Marx, Strauss, Rachmaninov, Decca 2001

  • Thaïs (opera)|Thaïs (2001)

  • Manon (2001)

  • Bel Canto Arias by Donizetti, Bellini, Rossini, Decca 2002

  • Under the Stars Broadway Duets with Bryn Terfel, Decca 2003

  • By Request Decca 2003

  • Mozart: Così fan tutte Decca

  • Handel: Alcina Erato

  • Rossini: Armida (Rossini)|Armida Sony (live)

  • Mozart: Don Giovanni Decca

  • Massenet: Hérodiade Sont (live)

  • Handel Arias Decca 2003/2004

  • Requiem (Verdi) Philips 2004

  • Haunted Heart Decca 2005

  • Sacred Songs Decca 2005

  • Homage – The Age of the Diva Decca 2006

  • Strauss: Daphne Decca

  • Four Last Songs by Richard Strauss Decca 2008

  • Verismo – Arias of Puccini, Mascagni, Cilea, Giordano, Leoncavallo Decca 2009

  • Dark Hope Decca Records 2010


  • DVD


  • Tchaikovsky: Eugene Onegin (opera)|Eugene Onegin Decca 2007

  • Strauss, R: Arabella Decca 2008

  • Verdi: La traviata Decca

  • Mozart: Don Giovanni

  • Mozart: The Marriage of Figaro

  • Massenet: Manon

  • Rossini: Armida Decca

  • Strauss, R: Arabella Decca

  • Strauss, R: Der Rosenkavalier Decca

  • Strauss, R: Capriccio (opera)|Capriccio Decca

  • Verdi: Otello

  • Dvorák: Rusalka Decca

  • Massenet: Thaïs (opera)|Thaïs Decca

  • Metropolitan Opera: The Audition (documentary)


  • Honors


  • In 2000, Chef Daniel Boulud named a dessert, La Diva Renée , after her. http://www.nytimes.com/1999/12/22/nyregion/public-lives.html "Diva Dessert, Soprano Breakfast" by James Barron (journalist)|James Barron , The New York Times , December 22, 1999


  • References


    reflist|2

    Sources


  • Fleming, Renée. The Inner Voice: the Making of a Singer . Paperback ed. New York: Penguin Group, 2004. ISBN 9780143035947


  • External links


    Commons categoryRefbegin
  • official| http://www.reneefleming.com/

  • http://www.musicalcriticism.com/interviews/fleming-0609.shtml Interview with Renée Fleming at http://www.musicalcriticism.com/ MusicalCriticism.com

  • http://www.renee-fleming.com/ Renée Fleming – Fansite

  • http://www.reneefleming.net/ Renée Fleming Fansite with interview and performance videos

  • Allmusic|class=artist|id=p76512|pure_url=yes Allmusic pop music entry – Renée Fleming

  • Allmusic|class=artist|id=q23812|pure_url=yes Allmusic classical music entry: Renée Fleming

  • http://www.npr.org/programs/pt/features/fleming.html NPR interview: Renée Fleming

  • http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/f/renee_fleming/index.html Renée Fleming Topic at The New York Times

  • Imdb name|0281765

  • http://www.classicalarchives.com/feature/renee_fleming_exclusive_interview.html Classical Archives Interview

  • Refend
    Polar Music Prize|state=collapsedIndiana, Pennsylvania
    Persondata| NAME = Fleming, Renée
    | ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
    | SHORT DESCRIPTION =American opera soprano
    | DATE OF BIRTH = February 14, 1959
    | PLACE OF BIRTH =Indiana, Pennsylvania
    | DATE OF DEATH =
    | PLACE OF DEATH =

    DEFAULTSORT:Fleming, Renee Category:1959 births
    Category:Living people
    Category:American opera singers
    Category:American sopranos
    Category:Crane School of Music alumni
    Category:Eastman School of Music alumni
    Category:Fulbright Scholars
    Category:Grammy Award winners
    Category:Honorary Members of the Royal Academy of Music
    Category:Juilliard School alumni
    Category:Musicians from Pennsylvania
    Category:Operatic sopranos
    Category:People from Indiana, Pennsylvania
    Category:People from Rochester, New York
    Category:Richard Tucker Award winners

    bg:???? ???????
    ca:Renée Fleming
    cs:Renée Flemingová
    de:Renée Fleming
    es:Renée Fleming
    fa:??? ??????
    fr:Renée Fleming
    id:Renee Fleming
    it:Renée Fleming
    he:??? ??????
    hu:Renée Fleming
    hy:???? ???????
    nl:Renée Fleming
    ja:??·?????
    no:Renée Fleming
    pl:Renée Fleming
    pt:Renée Fleming
    ro:Renée Fleming
    ru:???????, ????
    fi:Renée Fleming
    sv:Renée Fleming
    tg:???? ???????
    zh:??·???

    Copyright Citations

    This article is licensed under the GNU License
    Click here for original article: Renee Fleming


    Renee Fleming Photo by: www.camasb.org



          

     
       
     
    Home  |  About Us  |  Privacy  |  Sitemap  |  FAQs  |  Terms and Conditions
     
    Copyright 2012, iCubator Labs, LLC, All Rights Reserved.