Happy Birthday: Renée Fleming

Eva in Wagner's Die Meistersinger von
Nürnberg at the 1996 Bayreuth Festival

What can be written about a soprano celebrating the 25th anniversary of her professional opera debut (Konstanze in Die Entführung aus dem Serail at the Salzburg Landestheater) that now has a dessert, a flower and a perfume named after her? She has sung in every major theater in the world under every major conductor. She has received the most prestigious accolades, titles, awards and honorary degrees. She has worn gowns by the fashion industry's most celebrated designers. She has entertained Presidents at the White House. She has had her portrait done by renowned artists in all mediums. She has had song cycles and operas written for her voice. She has performed on film scores, jazz albums and even an alternative-rock recording. She has performed over 50 opera roles and brought joy to the ears of millions on the planet. She has raised two amazing daughters. The only thing to say is, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

The soprano in concert

Renée Fleming (born February 14, 1959) is an American soprano specializing in opera and lieder. Fleming has a full lyric soprano voice. Fleming has performed coloratura, 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 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 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. On December 9, 2010, the Lyric Opera of Chicago announced that she had been appointed to the newly created position of Creative Consultant for a period of five years, effective immediately. Renowned 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."

For complete and full biographies check Renée Fleming's official website, as well as her wikipedia entry.

TOP PICKS:

"Měsíčku Na Nebi Hlubokém" Rusalka


"Glück das mir verblieb" Die tote Stadt


"I can smell the sea air" Streetcar Named Desire


"Un bel dì vedremo" Madama Butterfly


"Dove sono" Le Nozze di Figaro


"Piangea cantando nell’erma landa...Ave Maria" Otello


"Depuis le jour" Louise


"Ain't It a Pretty Night" Susannah


"D'amore al dolce impero" Armida


"Tu che di gel sei cinta" Turandot


"Beim Schlafengehen" Vier letzte lieder