Renée Fleming: An Unforgettable Soprano Journey | Perspective

Renée Lynn Fleming is an American soprano, known for performances in opera, concerts, recordings, theater, film, and at major public occasions. A recipient of the National Medal of Arts, Fleming has been nominated for 17 Grammy Awards and has won four times.
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[@michaellazzeri2069]

She's a National treasure. For all of us.

[@jrock2720]

I share one thing in common with Ms. Fleming - we are both SUNY grads! I also used to live very close to Eastman. That's about it. Ms. Fleming is a titan of music.

[@sairamnagarajan]

Me too! Never thought of the SUNY connection but still pretty cool it exists :)

[@wotan10950]

I went to SUNY Buffalo (University), but I’m three years older. And my degree(s) are in Finance/Accounting. But I did study voice, as sort of a goof, with Heinz Rehfuss at UB.

[@wotan10950]

Fascinating! I first saw Fleming at the Met in 1991 as the Countess (Figaro). My wife and I, and some friends, sat there with our mouths wide open - the voice was just so beautiful. I’ve seen her in just about all her roles since then.

[@smallworld1624]

Such a voice. Her warmth, versatility, and appeal brought a lot of people to opera. I know she did me.

[@juilanlou3720]

Her powerful voice captures our hearts in every high and low notes, and BEYOND 👏👏👏👏👏

[@ElliePince]

Wow! A stunningly beautiful selection of Renée’s performances! And there are so many more fascinating works she gave us, and more are coming! Her contribution to society is also significant, such as educating of the next generations of singers, supporting of studies in the field of connections between Music and Health.

[@nicolettemitchell3146]

Renee Fleming is so gorgeous a true legend

[@cappycapuzi1716]

I just luv her! One of my magic nights at Chicago's Lyric Opera was her Traviata with Hampson and Polenzani. Attended an absolutely memorable recital of her in Chicago Symphony Center years ago. Such an interesting, intelligent program! Wide ranging repertoire. A bit of coloratura. Some think she "gilds the lily" too much, but I appreciate her being a true original!

[@chaan280]

Wow!!! Superb! Sublime! Superlative! ”The Most Beautiful Voice”♥️ And the technic… and expressive singing… and colouring… and intelligence and… Wonderful actress too and a GORGIOUS SOUL!

[@natalijaargenta959]

My absolute favourite was Thais at The Met....Christian Lacroix costumes, stunningly beautiful and THAT voice.....It totally captivated me and that Thais is one of my most watched operas as it is epic and haunting. What struck me was I favoured European opera stars and then I watched Renee in Thais and then Rusalka. Rusalka was equally awe-inspiring; Renee singing 'vaga luna' from the branches of a tree.....she reminds me in looks of a Latvian beauty, then I found she has Czech ancestry. She has an otherworldly quality when she performed as Rusalka and Thais. Just gorgeous lady and very modest in interviews.

[@momesserli7895]

Thank you for this documentary I do not know of many documentaries of the opera stars...it is nice to know how their career evolved...

[@melanieohara6941]

Amazing versatility-what a voice! Watching from Wyoming-again, thank you!🌹

[@bepmeijer5202]

How beautiful, what a voice Thanks Renée 🌷

[@talmagebandy667]

The most beautiful voice EVER.

[@JamesAHollandMusic]

My all time favorite Soprano…..period. Full stop. I’m not usually a fan of sopranos but I can listen to Renee sing all day. I wish she hadn’t retired so soon but what she gave us during her career was spectacular. Aside from her Operatic career, she is one of the best female Jazz singers ever. This the only huge opera singer who could transition from grand opera to Cole Porter and be equally great and authentic in both, very divergent, genres. Only Domingo could switch genres like that but he wasn’t as authentic when he sang non-operatic material.

[@MrOperagoer]

She did not make any transition to jazz. She started out with jazz while she was at SUNY. She was just good at it, and apparently loved it, and there was no reason to give it up. Why not do both?

[@flyinghow]

I have always liked Renee, but wow! And a nice person with no diva attitude, so giving of her time to young singers in master classes......Brava!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@stephaniepenman1872]

Discovering Renne,some years back,she became & will stay my favorite. Thank U for such a marvellous video,we have nearly all her CD, Bless U Renne for all U the pleasure U have given us Mortals.

[@jsl1952]

had the immense pleasure of seeing her live in Vancouver, what a night!

[@Wolfsky9]

A true American treasure to the world . Bravo, Forever !

[@christiaandhooghe]

25:45 min come on, they don't make it any more beautiful then this. ❤ Renée Fleming has all these moment of glory.

[@SteveL2012]

She is extraordinary.

[@tatyanaidayatova1469]

Почти никто из комментаторов не написал о том, какая великая труженица Рене. Она работала над своим голосом очень много, годами создавала его! Она потрясающе искренняя певица , действительно тонко и глубоко чувствующая и вместе с тем блистательная актриса , хорошо понимающая эстетику оперы. И она интеллигентна , совсем не заносчива и очень по - человечески привлекательна. Обожаю Вас, Рене!

[@STEPHANEBERTRAND92]

Thank you to this precious movie ♥️

[@melaniamonicacraciun9900]

Web connection now is creating relationships... even stronger than any marriage could be, loving the same things we could never be apart anymore...and it's a feeling l trully love, big loving hug adorable Renée, let's imagine cyber invisible audience next to us enjoying this video & dedicate it those who might become your supporters from now on, because.. those who are not Opera fans yet , in fact, are the most important. Yesterday travels in the Past rather exhausted me, let's start running for life together all over again, let's stop war affairs and hang on things that make life worth living fans, you are doing a great job indeed

[@gaylereid8264]

These words are soo powerful!!! You must be Czech just as Renée to have the passion you have 🥰 Let’s, yes do, “let’s imagine cyber audiences” & replace war affairs with L❤️VE inspired by Renèe’s singing everyday of our LIVES❣️❣️

[@spideywhiplash]

She has a gorgeous voice. And I'm especially impressed that she was born in 1959 and put out a album with the Song "Soul Meets Body" by Death Cab for Cutie. I was born in 1965 and I don't know too many people around our ages that appreciate the Alt Indie genres....gives me hope that more exist.

[@user-ir4dt2sr2l]

Мастерство ,невероятно красивый голос

[@michaelwalton3202]

I love her!😃

[@jacksonrichards-jarvis4482]

She’s so beautiful ❤

[@pompom7x728]

Beautiful! Thank you 🌺🇫🇷🎼🇨🇭

[@guldenaydin9918]

Şahane.... Ses; insanın ruhunu yıkıyor.. Maria Callas'ın tacını devir almış... Minnettarım...

[@eveyholmes]

Saw her twice at Placido Domingo concerts. In Los Angeles and Rancho Mirage.

[@trudyberry5002]

Rene’e Fleming is Awesome!!!!!!!

[@rencarb3045]

Beautiful and powerful

[@kraus3591]

Eres buenísimo Bravo !!!!!!

[@mauricioszwerdszarf1455]

The best Violetta ever!!!!!

[@sdorr]

... a great musician!

[@Billy-Mandalay]

I liked her german songs.

[@algini12]

We are very proud of the hometown girl Ms Flemming from the outskirts of Pittsburgh. Her voice is so smooth and effortless. How did it come from our guttural Burgh, lol?

[@jrock2720]

Probably the same question you could ask about Andy Warhol. The Warhol museum is fabulous and worth a visit to Pittsburgh.

[@algini12]

@@jrock2720 He was a reserved somewhat sickly kid. Went to Carnegie Mellon University then got out of here and never returned. Most including myself, didn't know he came from here till his obituary. His older brother's stayed (They didn't drop the letter a at the end of their last name). They were ordinary guys, though one of their son's became an illustrator.. Many here in Pittsburgh didn't want the museum as he never acknowledge the city and people thought it too expensive! It's a blue collar town. But you are correct, it's a great museum.

[@jeffhofer6459]

She is from Rochester Ny!

[@algini12]

@@jeffhofer6459 She was born in Indiana, PA.. (Outskirts of Pittsburgh). Look it up.

[@vvalery1522]

Am I the only one who noticed they are speaking about Ms. Fleming in past tense like she’s dead?

[@zayvier69]

What song is this at 4:23?

[@theosah2428]

What year was this documentary made?

[@logansrest]

Beautiful yes.. but where is Mimi Coertse (Vienna State Opera, Kammer Sängerin etc)

[@richardvergara]

I thought she made her Met debut as the Countess in Figaro.

[@beachfanatic2010]

She has a nice raw soprano instrument. What she is missing is real operatic vocal size. And this is what La Scala demands. They demand from a singer vocal size which Renee does not have.

[@kenoverbay-baker4653]

As if "La Scala" is the alpha and omega of opera.

[@beachfanatic2010]

@@kenoverbay-baker4653 Well, it is the opera house with the most history. I mean basically all the main Italian operatic major composers debuted all of the main operas of all times at La Scala. The fact that they have a poor administration now is a whole different story. And this was Karma for how they did Callas and many other singers.

[@aaronmalone7065]

LOL I’ve seen her live many times. Her voice is no pipsqueak, and the fans at La Scala are complete trash. If all they care about is volume then they have no taste at all. “Real operatic size”. 😂😂😂 what a ridiculous comment.

[@ferrierepc]

As far as La Scala...I live in Milano and I can state without exaggerating that the Milanese who feel that their opera house is the ONLY opera house worth a damn and have boo'd so many opera singers, including their own at times...! The arrogance of, not only seasonal ticket holders at La Scala, but the people, like me who buy tickets for operas i want to see and from a great height, can be tragic, hurting not only the singers but those around them who are singing their best and other audience members who are enjoying the opera and not judging the artists from whence they came...in this case, the USA. Italia is a great nation (though no one understands how we get from point A to point B and the bureucracy is killing) but Italia is behind, sociologically and often pays the price by the EU, in fines, as it treats immigrants badly, only gave LGBTQ people rights in 2016 (and I don't believe that it was because they cared but because the EU was fining Italy millions of euros every year for not giving LGBTQ people equal rights)....but the opera is Italian, by tradition, and the arrogance Italians have to actually Boo someone off a stage is hardly how one would treat a visiting artist, or a dog. We apologize for that as it doesn't represent Italians, but that tiny sector of Italians who believe that are the judges of what is good and what is not, in Opera. If you want a fun night at the opera, and you are here in the summer, go to the arena in Verona, built by the Romans and have fun watching opera...dressed as you are and with a bottle of wine, bread and cheese...and enjoy it. Yes, we should all go to 1 opera in our lives and La Scala is the original.....but go for the experience of being there and leave the judgment outside.We apologize @reneefleming

[@nathanswanson1040]

If you are going to do a bio of a singer you should get your facts correct... this video has a number of errors. For example, her debut at the Met was not as Mimi in 89 as claimed by one interviewed subject in this video; a role she never performed with that company. She sang Mimi in 1989 with the New York City Opera at the David H Koch Theater which is next door to the Met. Also her Met debut as the Countess in 1991 was not planned. Felicity Lott got sick and she stepped in last minute to replace her; so connecting her win of the Met auditions to a planned debut as the Countess is not really accurate. She did get hired as a cover artist for the role based on that audition and a bit of luck got her on stage at the Met in a role that was originally intended for another singer.

[@MrOperagoer]

Agree, me too always found inaccuracies in those profile/document stuff. That’s very common. That’s very annoying. In this instance, other than inaccuracy, I do have an issue on a commentator’s account of Fleming’s Fulbright trip to Germany. He briefly mentioned that Fleming studied with Schwarzkopf there, but no mention of another teacher: Arleen Auger. In fact, Fleming made it clear, at interviews, that Schwarzkopf ruined her voice. It took two years to correct it back. However, she values her time with Auger; she even sang at Auger’s funeral. My problem is that: thinking toward what the audience would like to hear, people always tend to throw out big names for an impression whether it is true or not. Actually, Auger’s name is just golden as any first-rated singer. Just look it up, for example, a long article in Opera News, in an issue in the late 1970s or early 1980s.

[@BellaFirenze]

It is ironic that a woman who cannot sing narrates this documentary. Bravissima Fleming.

[@PragueImport]

Otello has so many beautiful arias for Desdemona, yet this "documentary" shows a few seconds of the killing scene. I understand that many opera fans appreciate these "Perspective" programs. However, they are full of factual errors and so poorly designed. It breaks my heart because they hurt the legacy of some of these glorious singers, especially the ones no longer with us.

[@philipsmith3084]

There is nothing opera!

[@CariadChavez]

What we're not going to do is call anyone but Ms Leontyne Price THE Great American Soprano. Ms Fleming is wonderful, but Leontyne Price is Leontyne Price.

[@anthonydixon8602]

Cmon you know they don’t consider her the great American soprano

[@MrOperagoer]

I think it would be safe to assume that Price is your favorite. Whereas Fleming is mine; it is, no need to assume. Whatever, can we say that Price is a great American dramatic soprano and Fleming is a great American soprano? As for Ponselle, I don’t even know if she is a soprano. She transposes the keys down quite often. People like her, that’s OK.

[@jimbuxton2187]

Price was good but only great in her own mind.... which she admitted to loving the sound of her voice and said that her debut of Anthony and Cleoparta was the greatest moment in the twentieth century....

[@MrOperagoer]

Correction: I meant Fleming is a great American Lyric soprano.

[@aaronmalone7065]

Price can do no wrong for me, vocally. But- she herself admitted that her ego got in her way. She even talked about Von Karajan scolding her about it. Fleming has always been humble.

[@annieladysmith]

Complete NWO lady. Love the black and white for The Star Spangled. Mockery never looked so pretty.