Renée Fleming
Renée Fleming (born February 14, 1959) is an American opera singer and soprano whose repertoire encompasses Richard Strauss, Mozart, Handel, bel canto, lieder, French opera and chansons, jazz and indie rock.[1] Fleming has a full lyric soprano voice.[2] She has performed coloratura, lyric, and lighter spinto soprano operatic 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 Le nozze di Figaro, Desdemona in Verdi's Otello, Violetta in Verdi's La traviata, the title role in Dvořák's Rusalka, the title role in Massenet's Manon, the title role in Massenet's Thaïs, the title role in Richard Strauss's Arabella, the Marschallin in Der Rosenkavalier, and the Countess in Capriccio.
A National Medal of Arts and 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. She serves as Creative Consultant for the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
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."[2]
Early life and education
A daughter of two music teachers, Fleming was born on February 14, 1959, in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Rochester, New York. She has great-grandparents who were born in Prague and later immigrated to the US.[3][4] Fleming attended Churchville-Chili High School.
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 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 Scholarship, which enabled her to work in Europe with Arleen Augér and Elisabeth Schwarzkopf. This was followed by further studies at the Juilliard School, which she sang jazz gigs to pay for.[5] While at Juilliard she sang in roles with the Juilliard Opera Center, appearing as Musetta in Puccini's La bohème and the Wife in Menotti's Tamu-Tamu, among others.[6][7] Her voice teacher at Juilliard was Beverley Peck Johnson.[8]
Career
1980s
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.[9] 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.[10] In 1986 she sang her first major operatic role, Konstanze in Die Entführung aus dem Serail, at the Salzburger Landestheater. Two years later she portrayed Thalie, Clarine and La Folie in Jean-Philippe Rameau's Platée with the Piccolo Teatro Dell Opera.[11]
Her first major break came in 1988 when she won the 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.[12] Also in 1989, Fleming made her debut with the New York City Opera as Mimì in La bohème under conductor Chris Nance and her debut with The Royal Opera, London, as Dircé in Cherubini's Médée. She also was awarded a Richard Tucker Career Grant and won the George London Competition.[13][14]
1990s
In 1990 she was once again honored by the Richard Tucker Music Foundation but this time with the highly coveted Richard Tucker Award.[15] That same year she made her debut with Seattle Opera in her first portrayal of the title role in 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. She sang the title role in the U.S. premiere presentation of Donizetti's 1841 opera Maria Padilla with Opera Omaha.[16] In addition, she sang the title role in Donizetti's Lucrezia Borgia with the Opera Orchestra of New York.[17][18]
Fleming made her Metropolitan Opera and San Francisco Opera debut portraying Countess Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro in 1991. She was originally not scheduled to make her Met debut until the following season, but stepped in to replace Felicity Lott who had become ill.[19] She returned to the Met later that year to sing Rosina in the world premiere of John Corigliano's The Ghosts of Versailles. Continuing her progress, she made her Carnegie Hall debut performing music by 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.[20][21]
1992 saw Fleming making her debut with Grand Théâtre de Genève as Fiordiligi in Mozart's Così fan tutte,[22] and she 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.[23][24]
Fleming sang the role of Alaide in Bellini's La straniera in a concert performance by the Opera Orchestra of New York; made her debut at the Rossini Opera Festival in the title role of Rossini's Armida; and debuted with the Lyric Opera of Chicago in the title role of Carlisle Floyd's Susannah.[25]
She also gave her New York City solo recital debut at Alice Tully Hall to great acclaim,[26] sang her first Pamina in Mozart's The Magic Flute at the Metropolitan Opera, and performed Alban Berg's "Three Excerpts from Wozzeck and the "Lulu Suite" with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra under James Levine.[27][28]
The same season saw her singing in the world premiere of Joan Tower's Fanfare with Pinchas Zukerman and the Aspen Chamber Symphony[29] and in the world premiere of John Kander's Letter From Sullivan Ballou at the Richard Tucker Awards ceremony.[30]
In June 1993, the American soprano Arleen Auger died, a victim of cancer. Fleming performed some recital pieces during Auger's funeral in Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel in New York City.
During the 1993/1994 season, Fleming sang her first Desdemona in Verdi's Otello and her first Ellen Orford in Britten's Peter Grimes, both with the Metropolitan Opera.[31] During the following summer, she made her debut at the Glyndebourne Festival as the Countess in Le nozze di Figaro.[32] In addition, she performed the role of Madame de Tourvel in the world premiere of Conrad Susa's The Dangerous Liaisons. The 1994/1995 San Francisco Opera's season included her Salome in Massenet's Hérodiade.[33]
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.[34] Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte with Solti at Royal Festival Hall in London followed, as did a lauded recital at the Morgan Library.[35]
A highlight of 1996 was her signing of an exclusive recording contract with the London/Decca label, making her the first American singer in 31 years to do so, the last having been Marilyn Horne.[36]
The title role in Rossini's Armida at the Pesaro Festival in Italy also came in 1996. Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte at the Met followed, as did the soprano solo in the Verdi Requiem with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra at Carnegie Hall.[37] Her debut in the role of Marguerite in Gounod's Faust came with Chicago Lyric Opera, and she 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.
Solti chose Fleming to be the first recipient of his "Solti Prize", an award given to an outstanding younger singer, and given by the "Académie du disque lyrique" in a ceremony equivalent to the Grammy Awards.[38] That year, Fleming debuted at the Bayreuth Festival as Eva in Wagner's Meistersinger.[39] Her other performances included recitals at the Edinburgh International Festival and at Alice Tully Hall.[40]
Her first Manon at the Opéra Bastille received glowing reviews in 1997. At the Bastille, she also reprised the Marschallin in Der Rosenkavalier as well as singing Marguerite in Faust and Rusalka at the Met.[41]
Two concert performances occurred: first with the New York Philharmonic, first under Zubin Mehta performing a selection of opera arias; the second singing Mozart's Exsultate, jubilate and three songs of Richard Strauss with Kurt Masur. She appeared 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 recitals as well at notable venues such as the Salzburg Festival.[42]
Two title roles were offered to Fleming in 1998. These were Richard Strauss' Arabella with Houston Grand Opera and Carlisle Floyd's Susannah. Also, there was Countess Almaviva in a landmark production of Le nozze di Figaro at the Met which also starred Cecilia Bartoli, Susanne Mentzer, Dwayne Croft, Danielle de Niese, and Bryn Terfel and which was broadcast on PBS' Great Performances.[43] She made her Carnegie Hall recital debut and sang Richard Strauss's Four Last Songs with Claudio Abbado and the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra at the Salzburg Festival.[44] and later with the Berlin Philharmonic.
She originated the roles of Blanche DuBois in the world première André Previn's A Streetcar Named Desire with the San Francisco Opera in September 1998.[45] but, a months before in what Fleming has described as "the worst night of her operatic life" she was roundly booed on the opening night of Donizetti's Lucrezia Borgia in July at La Scala.
1999 brought appearances at the Bavarian State Opera as the Marschallin in Der Rosenkavalier and 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.[46] Fleming's CD, The Beautiful Voice, won her a Grammy Award that year.
Performances of two new title roles were given: Handel's Alcina with Les Arts Florissants and conductor William Christie and with the Lyric Opera of Chicago[47] and Charpentier's Louise with San Francisco Opera and Théâtre du Capitole.[48] Fleming closed out the year by performing for President Bill Clinton at the White House for a Christmas celebration.[49]
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 with the Opera Orchestra of New York.[50] She also appeared as Donna Anna in Mozart's Don Giovanni at the Salzburg Festival and at 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 Creation under James Levine.[51] In June of that year she sang at the installation of New York Archbishop Edward Egan.[52]
As Desdemona in Otello she opened the 2001/02 Lyric Opera of Chicago season, 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 in 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.[5]
Taking a rather different approach, 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 accompanist 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 Bellini's Il pirata with Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.
Her career at the Metropolitan Opera continued in 2003 with Imogene and Violetta in La traviata. She sang the title role in Massenet's Thaïs with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, in addition to Rusalka at Covent Garden and another Violetta with Houston Grand Opera. A reprise of Blanche in Previn's A Streetcar Named Desire took place at the Barbican Centre in London.
Met performances continued in 2004, with Fleming portraying Rodelinda in Handel's opera and reprises of Rusalka and Violetta at the Met. She also sang her first Gräfin (Countess) in 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. Recitals were given in Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, and the United States and performed in several concerts with Elton John at Radio City Music Hall.
Massenet's Manon at the Met, Desdemona in Verdi's Otello at Covent Garden, and Thaïs in Vienna were part of her 2005 repertoire, in addition to concerts 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, sang Violetta in La traviata with Los Angeles Opera; returned to the Met to sing both Manon and Rodelinda; and took up Violetta in the Met's touring production to Japan. Several recitals and concerts throughout the United States, Italy, Russia, Sweden and Austria took place, the latter being a celebration of Mozart's 250th Birthday with the Vienna Philharmonic which was broadcast live internationally.[53] She also recorded song cycles with pianist Brad Mehldau, which were released as Love Sublime.[54][55]
Violetta reappeared the following year in Chicago; Tatyana in Eugene Onegin and Violetta were given at the Metropolitan Opera; her Arabella was seen at the Zurich Opera, as was Thaïs at the Théâtre du Châtelet, The Royal Opera, London, Vienna State Opera, and the Liceu, Barcelona. Performances 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, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra where she appeared as a Pennington Great Performers series artist. Additionally, Fleming appeared at numerous music festivals, including the Salzburg Festival and the Lincoln Center Festival and she gave recitals throughout Southeast Asia, Germany, and Switzerland.
The 2008/09 season resulted in Fleming singing Desdemona and Thais at the Metropolitan Opera, the Gräfin in Capriccio at the Vienna State Opera, Tatyana at the Tanglewood Music Festival, and Lucrezia Borgia[56] 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 Rusalka at the Metropolitan Opera, the Marschallin at the 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 as well as in Mary Zimmerman's new production of Rossini's Armida, given for the first time by the Met. She returned to that role during the Met's 2010/2011 season, along with the Gräfin in Capriccio.
In an April 15, 2010, 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.[57] In the same 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.
At the Last Night of the Proms in London in 2010, Fleming performed songs by Richard Strauss, Dvořák and Smetana. That November, 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 while in December, the Board of Directors of Lyric Opera of Chicago announced that Fleming has been named Creative Consultant, a first in the company’s history.[58]
On June 18, 2014, Fleming performed as a guest of honour at Tokyo Global Concert at New National Theatre, Tokyo. It was her third visit to Japan after the previous one eight years ago. Roberto Abbado conducted Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra in the concert.[59][60]
Personal life
Fleming married actor Rick Ross in 1989, and they have two daughters together: Amelia, born in 1992, and Sage, born in 1995. The couple divorced in 2000.[2][61] On September 3, 2011, Fleming married corporate lawyer Tim Jessell, whom she met on a blind date set up by author Ann Patchett.[62]
On May 28, 2015, Ms. Fleming was awarded an honorary Doctor of Music by Harvard University. [63]
Popular recordings
Fleming has released a number of music recordings on the 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 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.[64] Fleming appears on the soundtrack of the 2011 Steven Spielberg animated film The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn as the singing voice of opera diva Bianca Castafiore, singing Juliette's waltz from Gounod's Romeo et Juliette.[65] She recorded Alexandre Desplat's theme song "Still Dream" for the 2012 DreamWorks animated feature, Rise of the Guardians.
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 radio program A Prairie Home Companion.
Fleming appeared as a "Special Guest Vocalist" on Joe Jackson's 1994 album Night Music on the song "Lullaby."
On 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".[66]
Fleming performed "I'll Be Home For Christmas" on ABC's 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. She had performed the same song at Concert for America, which marked the first anniversary of 9/11.[67]
Fleming was featured on the first episode of the second season of HBO Masterclass. She led a master class in which she taught and mentored four aspiring college-aged singers.
On Good Morning America on June 8, 2010, Fleming performed a cover of Muse's "Endlessly" from their album Absolution.
On March 20, 2011, Fleming appeared in Grand Finale concert of the YouTube Symphony Orchestra with the Sydney Children's Choir, performing Mozart's "Caro bell'idol mio" K562, under the baton of Michael Tilson Thomas.[68] In less than one week, the concert had 33 million online views.[69]
On June 4, 2012, she performed at the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Concert in front of and on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
On September 26, 2013, Fleming sang the Top 10 List ("Top 10 Opera Lyrics") on CBS's Late Show with David Letterman.[70]
In July 2014, Fleming played the role of an opera diva in a new comedy by Joe DiPietro, Living on Love directed by Kathleen Marshall, at the Williamstown Theatre Festival; Fleming made her Broadway debut in this play at the Longacre Theatre in April 2015.[71]
On February 2, 2014, Fleming was the first opera singer to perform "The Star-Spangled Banner" as part of the Super Bowl XLVIII pre-game ceremonies, performing to a standing ovation and what was then the largest audience in the history of American television,[72] until it was eclipsed by NBC's airing of Super Bowl XLIX the following year.
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 Susa | Transformations | 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 Christmas Carol | Virginia Opera |
1987 | the Wife | Menotti | 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 | Cherubini | Médée | Royal Opera House, Covent Garden |
1989 | Imogene | Bellini | Il pirata | Opera Orchestra of New York |
1990 | Rusalka | Dvořák | Rusalka | Seattle Opera |
1990 | Micaëla | Bizet | Carmen | New York City Opera |
1990 | Lucrezia Borgia | Donizetti | Lucrezia 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 | Massenet | Thaïs | 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 | Tchaikovsky | Eugene Onegin | Dallas Opera |
1993 | Armida | Rossini | Armida | Pesaro, Rossini Festival |
1993 | Donna Elvira | Mozart | Don Giovanni | Teatro alla Scala |
1993 | Alaide | Bellini | La straniera | Carnegie Hall |
1993 | Susannah | Floyd | Susannah | Lyric Opera of Chicago |
1993 | Lulu | Alban Berg | Symphonic Pieces from Lulu | Metropolitan Concert/Gala at Ann Arbor, Michigan |
1993 | Jenůfa | Leoš Janáček | Jenůfa | 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 | Gounod | Faust | 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 Previn | A Streetcar Named Desire | San Francisco Opera |
1998 | Gabriel / Eva | Joseph Haydn | Die Schöpfung | Tanglewood Music Festival |
1999 | Alcina | Handel | Alcina | Opéra national de Paris |
1999 | Louise | Charpentier | Louise | San Francisco Opera |
2003 | Violetta | Verdi | La traviata | Houston Grand Opera |
2004 | Rodelinda | Handel | Rodelinda | Metropolitan Opera |
2004 | Gräfin | R. Strauss | Capriccio | Palais Garnier |
2005 | Daphne | R. Strauss | Daphne | University of Michigan |
2010 | Hanna Glawari | Lehár | The Merry Widow | Semperoper |
2012 | Ariadne | R. Strauss | Ariadne auf Naxos | Baden-Baden |
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 (Mendelssohn) Decca 1997
- Rusalka (1997)
- 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 (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 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
- Love Sublime Song cycles with Brad Mehldau, Nonesuch, 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
- Poèmes – French songs, Decca 2012
- Guilty Pleasures – Wide range of opera arias, Decca 2013
- Christmas in New York – 13 songs about the season, Decca 2014
DVD
- Tchaikovsky: Eugene Onegin Decca 2007
- Verdi: La traviata Decca 2007
- Mozart: Don Giovanni Deutsche Grammophon 2005
- Mozart: The Marriage of Figaro NVC Arts 1999
- Massenet: Manon Arthaus 2009
- Rossini: Armida Decca 2011
- Strauss, R: Arabella Decca 2008
- Strauss, R: Der Rosenkavalier Decca
- Strauss, R: Capriccio Decca 2011
- Strauss, R: Capriccio Arthaus 2011
- Strauss, R: Ariadne auf Naxos Decca 2013
- Verdi: Otello Deutsche Grammophon 2004
- Dvořák: Rusalka Arthaus 2009
- Massenet: Thaïs Decca 2010
- Handel: Rodelinda Decca 2012
- Previn: A Streetcar Named Desire Arthaus 1999
- Ladies and Gentlemen Miss Renée Fleming (documentary) Decca 2002
- The Kindness of Strangers (documentary) Arthaus 2001
- Metropolitan Opera: The Audition (documentary)
Honors
- 1993: Honorary member of Sigma Alpha Iota, International Music Fraternity for Women[73]
- Fleming received the 1999 Grammy Award for Best Classical Vocal Performance for her album The Beautiful Voice.
- In 2000, Chef Daniel Boulud named a dessert, La Diva Renée, after her.[74]
- Ann Patchett used Fleming as the inspiration for a character in the 2001 novel Bel Canto.[75]
- Fleming received the 2003 Grammy Award for Best Classical Vocal Performance for her album Bel Canto.
- In 2003, Fleming was awarded Honorary Membership in the Royal Academy of Music.
- Also in 2003, Fleming received an Honorary Doctorate from the Juilliard School, and she was the Speaker for the Commencement Ceremony.[76]
- In 2005, she was made a Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur.
- In 2008, Fleming was awarded the Polar Music Prize "in recognition of her sublime unparalleled voice and unique stylistic versatility."[77]
- Fleming's 2009 album Verismo was awarded the Grammy Award for Best Classical Vocal Performance.[78]
- In 2011, Fleming received an Honorary Doctorate from the Eastman School of Music.[79]
- Also in 2011, Fleming was the recipient of the Fulbright Lifetime Achievement Medal.[80]
- In February 2012, Fleming was awarded the Victoire d'Honneur prize by France's Victoires de la musique classique.[81]
- In October 2012, Fleming was named Singer of the Year by the German ECHO Klassik Awards.[82]
- In February 2013, Fleming received her fourth Grammy Award for Best Classical Vocal Solo for her album Poèmes.
- Fleming was awarded the 2012 National Medal of Arts.[83]
Publications
- Fleming, Renée. The Inner Voice: the Making of a Singer. New York: Penguin Group, 2004. ISBN 978-0-14-303594-7 (paperback)
References
- ↑ Ronni Reich, "New roles, and teenage daughters, keep soprano Renee Fleming on a learning curve", The Star-Ledger (January 22, 2012)
- 1 2 3 Tommasini, Anthony: "For a Wary Soprano, Slow and Steady Wins the Race", The New York Times, September 14, 1997
- ↑ ""Radio Prague", July 17, 2009". Radio.cz. July 17, 2009. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ See also Renée Fleming, The Inner Voice: the Making of a Singer. Paperback ed. New York: Penguin Group, 2004.
- 1 2 Brady, James: "In Step With: Renée Fleming" Parade Magazine, November 7, 2004
- ↑ John Rockwell, "Opera: Graziella Sciutti's Bohème at Juilliard" The New York Times, December 11, 1983
- ↑ Will Crutchfield, "Opera: Menotti Stages a Double Bill at Juilliard", The New York Times, April 26, 1987
- ↑ Anthony Tommasini (January 22, 2001). "Beverley Peck Johnson, 96, Voice Teacher". The New York Times.
- ↑ Ross, Alex (February 19, 1994). "Classical Music in Review: Musica Viva of New York Unitarian Church of All Souls". The New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ Anderson, Jack (April 16, 1984). "Dance: Premiere of Eliot Feld's Adieu". The New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ Henahan, Donal (October 15, 1988). "Review/Theater; In a Rameau Opera-Ballet, A French Baroque Challenge". The New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ Kozinn, Allan (May 30, 1989). "Review/Opera; A Tender, Intimate Figaro In Small Charleston Theater". The New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ "Richard Tucker Award Goes to Texas Soprano". The New York Times. April 27, 1989. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ Crutchfield, Will (August 18, 1989). "Review/Opera; A Soprano Makes Debut in City Opera Boheme". The New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ "Soprano Is Recipient Of Richard Tucker Prize". The New York Times. May 2, 1990. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ Leo Adam Biga, "From the Archives: Opera Comes Alive Behind the Scenes at Opera Omaha Staging of Donizetti's Maria Padilla Starring Rene Fleming (sic)". Leo Adam Biga's Blog. September 26, 2011. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
- ↑ Anna Kisselgoff, "Review/Dance; Ballet Theater Celebrates Its Anniversary (Again)", The New York Times, May 9, 1990
- ↑ John Rockwell, "Review/City Opera; A Solid Figaro Opens A Season", The New York Times, August 2, 1990
- ↑ Allan Kozinn (March 21, 1991). "Early Debut for Soprano Who Won Tucker Award". The New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ Bernard Holland (February 18, 1991). "Japanese Violinist's Recital". The New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ James R. Oestreich (July 16, 1991). "Music in Review: Idomeneo Tanglewood Festival". The New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ Paul Hofmann; (January 5, 1992). "The New York Times, January 5, 1992". Geneva (Switzerland): New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ Edward Rothstein (February 1, 1992). "The New York Times, February 1, 1992". New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ James R. Oestreich (August 20, 1992). "The New York Times, August 20, 1992". New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ Bernard Holland (February 10, 1993). "The New York Times, February 10, 1993". New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ Allan Kozinn (March 31, 1993). "The New York Times, March 31, 1993". New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ James R. Oestreich (April 13, 1993). "The New York Times, April 13, 1993". New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ "The New York Times, May 8, 1993". New York Times. May 8, 1993. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ Kathryn Shattuck (May 16, 1993). "The New York Times, May 16, 1993". New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ Ross, Alex (December 16, 1993). "New Form For Old Gala For Prizes In Voice". The New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ James R. Oestreich (April 16, 1994). "The New York Times, April 16, 1994". New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ Edward Rothstein (June 3, 1994). "The New York Times, June 3, 1994". Great Britain: New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ James R. Oestreich (September 13, 1994). "The New York Times, September 13, 1994". New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ Edward Rothstein (February 16, 1995). "The New York Times, February 16, 1995". New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ Anthony Tommasini, "The New York Times, November 2, 1995". New York Times. November 2, 1995. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ Nadine Brozan (March 14, 1996). "The New York Times, March 14, 1996". New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ Anthony Tommasini. "The New York Times, January 10, 1996". Berlin, Germany: New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ Alan Riding (March 12, 1996). "The New York Times, March 12, 1996". Paris, France; Paris (France); France: New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ Anthony Tommasini (September 14, 1997). "The New York Times, September 14, 1997". New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ Anthony Tommasini (June 1, 1996). "The New York Times, June 1, 1996". New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ Paul Griffiths (March 24, 1997). "The New York Times, March 24, 1997". New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ Allan Kozinn (January 2, 1997). "The New York Times, January 2, 1997". New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ Sam Howe Verhovek (March 1, 1998). "The New York Times, March 1, 1998". Houston (Tex): New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ Vernon Kidd, "Spring–Summer '98; 'Happy Birthday' and Variations", p. 5, The New York Times, March 15, 1998
- ↑ David Mermelstein (September 13, 1998). "The New York Times, September 13, 1998". New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ Anthony Tommasini (January 29, 1999). "The New York Times, January 29, 1999". New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ Alan Riding (July 27, 1999). "The New York Times, July 27, 1999". New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ Melanie Rehak (August 29, 1999). "The New York Times, August 29, 1999". New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ Lawrence Van Gelder. "The New York Times, December 6, 1999". New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ Leslie Kandell (February 6, 2000). "The New York Times February 6, 2000". New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ Matthew Gurewitsch (May 21, 2000). "The New York Times, May 21, 2000". New York Times. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ James Barron, "Public Lives". New York Times. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
- ↑ Ester Molayeme, (September 17, 2006). "The Epoch Times, September 2006". En.epochtimes.com. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ Farach-Colton, Andrew "Love Sublime". Gramophone. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
- ↑ Goldberg, Joe (August 3, 2006) "When Classical Meets Jazz". Wall Street Journal. p. D5.
- ↑ "Coming Full Circle" in The Washington Blade
- ↑ Judith H. Dobrzynski, "Renée Fleming: Aria On the Future", The Wall Street Journal, April 15, 2010
- ↑ Daniel J. Wakin, "Fleming Adds New Role, Helping Guide Opera Troupe", The New York Times, December 9, 2010
- ↑ "フレミングのソプラノ響く 東京国際コンサート" [Fleming’s Soprano Sonant’s – Tokyo Global Concert]. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). Tokyo, Japan. June 19, 2014.
- ↑ "東京国際コンサート 歌姫ルネ・フレミングをゲストに開催" [Tokyo Global Concert Held – with Renee Fleming as the special guest]. MOSTLY CLASSIC (in Japanese). Tokyo, Japan: Sankei Shimbun Co., Ltd. 206 (7): 96–97. 2014.
- ↑ James Barron, "Public Lives" The New York Times, November 3, 1998
- ↑ "Love, etc...: Opera star Renee Fleming marries Washington lawyer Tim Jessell". Washington Post. 2011-09-11. Retrieved 2015-07-06.
- ↑ "Ten to receive honorary degrees.".
- ↑ Peter Conrad, "Renée Fleming: Diva goes to the dark side", The Guardian, March 28, 2010
- ↑ Francis Merson, "Review: John Williams: The Adventures of Tintin (Soundtrack) – Classical Music". Limelight Magazine. February 23, 2012. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
- ↑ Renée Fleming at Desert Island Discs
- ↑ "You'll Never Walk Alone" on YouTube, sung by Fleming
- ↑ Kosman, Joshua, "Michael Tilson Thomas fine-tunes YouTube Symphony", SFGate, March 21, 2011
- ↑ Melissa Lesnie, "YouTube Symphony attracts 33 million views worldwide", Limelight, March 25, 2011
- ↑ "Late Show staffer Mike McIntee's nightly online recap of the show, the "Wahoo Gazette"". Cbs.com. September 26, 2013. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ↑ "Renée Fleming to Star in Living on Love on Broadway" by Patrick Healy, The New York Times, December 22, 2014
- ↑ Zachery Woolfe, "With Renée Fleming, Super Bowl XLVIII Gets an Operatic Opening", February 2, 2014, on artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com.
- ↑ "Honorary Members". Sigma Alpha Iota. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
- ↑ James Barron, "Diva Dessert, Soprano Breakfast", The New York Times, December 22, 1999
- ↑ "Ann Patchett and Reneé Fleming on Bel Canto, NPR
- ↑ "Soprano Renee Fleming To Give Her First NYC Master Class on Tuesday, October 20 at Juilliard". Juilliard. October 2009. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
- ↑ "Renee Fleming". Polar Music Prize. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
- ↑ "Past Winners Search": Renée Fleming – Verismo, Grammy.com
- ↑ "Renée Fleming, The People's Diva; Returns To Her Alma Mater To Perform with the Eastman Philharmonia In a Concert to Benefit the Eastman School of Music". Eastman School of Music. January 11, 2011. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
- ↑ "Renee Fleming". Fulbright Association. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
- ↑ Thierry Hillériteau, "Renée Fleming, la mélodie du bonheur en France", Le Figaro, February 29, 2012
- ↑ Wolfgang Spahr, "German ECHO Classical Award Winners Announced, To Be Honored October 14", Billboard, July 10, 2012
- ↑ "President Obama to Award 2012 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal | The White House". Whitehouse.gov. July 3, 2013. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Renée Fleming. |
- Official website
- Renée Fleming on IMG Artists
- Renée Fleming curated by WKAR
- Interview with Renée Fleming at MusicalCriticism.com
- Renée Fleming – Fansite
- Renée Fleming Fansite with interview and performance videos
- Allmusic pop music entry – Renée Fleming
- Allmusic classical music entry: Renée Fleming
- NPR interview: Renée Fleming
- Renée Fleming Topic at The New York Times
- Renée Fleming at the Internet Movie Database
- Classical Archives Interview