Why We Love Renee Fleming
While known as a reigning diva of the opera world, she also excels at popular singing—a rare talent. The Huffington Post recently called her voice “gleaming and pure as crystal. . . as captivating as ever.”
And on February 11, Renee Fleming visits The Music Hall in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, performing a variety of her favorite classical and popular songs.
“Hearing Renee sing on stage is a remarkable opportunity for Seacoast audiences,” says The Music Hall’s Executive Director Patricia Lynch. “Among the qualities that make her so special is the thrilling charisma of her voice, and the way she conveys the emotions of a song. She also has an accessibility uncommon to an opera diva—when you hear her sing, it feels like she is singing directly to you. It feels very personal.”
Indeed, the charismatic performer has become known as “the people’s diva,” and is gaining a stellar reputation as a pop songstress. “Most opera singers tend to over-sing popular songs, and there are very few artists who can move in and out of the two genres,” says writer/producer Dennis Neil Kleinman, who leads the Music Hall’s popular Opera Connection talks during the Met @ The Music Hall season. “I’ve come to appreciate that Renee Fleming is one of those few who can successfully cross over. She’s so impressive and at ease in the popular realm—she seems to have a love for the songs she chooses, and she chooses well. It is almost like listening to a different singer, but with so much technical prowess behind her, she can hit a note the way other popular singers cannot. She also has a warm and engaging personality.”
The journey to bring Renee Fleming to The Music Hall took more than a year, says Patricia Lynch. The reputation of the beautifully restored historic theater, a favorite venue of artists (who often return for encore performances); the fact that Portsmouth is known as one of the most charming cities on the east coast; and the experience of the Music Hall as a seasoned host to many musical and literary stars, were all selling points, she says. “And we couldn’t have done it without the help of Paul Montrone and his staff,” she adds. “Mr. Montrone, formerly CEO of The Metropolitan Opera and a longtime Music Hall supporter, worked closely with us to make this date viable for the Music Hall and we are very grateful for his help.”
Reflecting on Renee Fleming’s extraordinary career, Paul Montrone notes: “It has been a pure pleasure to watch Renee develop over the past two decades, especially under the tutelage of James Levine at the Metropolitan Opera. Our Music Hall audience in Portsmouth will be hearing her at her peak.”