parterre box

130 comments

• Ruxton says:

  Sorry I know I’m going to get caned for this- but I think this is one of her best recordings. Sounds pretty good to me.

  on August 26, 2009 at 12:37 AM
• aloki miyeyi says:

  The verismo literature has benefited from idiosynchratic voices in the Italian tradition. Idiosynchratic just begins the description of Ms Fleming, even if Italian tradition does not at all apply. Add beautiful voice, good musical skills, and unfamiliar repertory, and she is so busy singing and making music that she has no time to indulge her bad taste. It seems to me that she is usually at her filthiest in music with which is familiar, and the performance of which she commands. There she can indulge her worst impulses, because she is not busy with more basic matters. And so, in this very unlikely repertory, she in fact makes a very good impression. While we may see her before then as hostess or whatever that is that she does for the simulcasts, the main course comes later in the season with Armida. I recommend that all the renaysayers hold their fire on this enterprise, and save it for the main event.

  on August 26, 2009 at 12:45 AM
• javier says:

  Renee Fleming sure has some nerve recording a verismo album and singing Der Rosenkavalier and Armida at the Met next seaon. Does this woman think she can sing everything? Hahaha…

  I actually bought this recording earlier today and I like it a lot. There are lots of interesting thing on it that I have never heard before.

  on August 26, 2009 at 1:05 AM
• Hans Lick says:

  I don’t understand, Cieca – I don’t think she’s the least bit like Tebaldi.

  on August 26, 2009 at 1:12 AM
• Lindoro Almaviva says:

  Do you guys remember when her entire Strauss album was posted in one of her websites. Does anyone know if this was done again?

  I’m thinking about buying the album too.

  on August 26, 2009 at 1:41 AM
• miked says:

  After listening to all the snippets I came to the realization that no matter how much I hope that this time I will change my opinion and somehow be convinced that she is indeed an artist and not just a collection of indulgently slow tempos and tastless mannerisms, I am left disappointed. Even when she is on her best behavior the jazzy gurgles, sighs, whoops and coos still litter her performances.

  on August 26, 2009 at 3:24 AM
• MontyNostry says:

  Hans Lick — I think that question in the headline was (highly) rhetorical. Maybe she was inspired by this unforgettable couple …

  on August 26, 2009 at 3:26 AM
• Cocky Kurwenal says:

  I agree with Ruxton and others – this sounds totally worth having, and very impressive. Rather better than some of the things she and Gergiev cooked up on ‘Hommage’.

  The ‘Si, mi chiamano Mimi’ excerpt sounds a bit screwed around, but overall I think it’s really enjoyable.

  on August 26, 2009 at 4:28 AM
• justanothertenor says:

  I am very surprised at how much I like these snippets. I may actually buy this… What have you done to me La Cieca?

  on August 26, 2009 at 4:41 AM
• Nina Micheltorena says:

  I hated this CD less than I thought. I didn’t buy it (I would never spend money for Renee) but a friend burned a copy for me. Her usual bag of tricks is still here, scooping, meowing, cooing, sighing, whining, but to a lesser degree: also this type of repertoire do not suffer from Fleming’s peculiar sense of rhythm as much as belcanto. On Youtube someone posted a very recent performance of D’amor al dolce impero she sang somwhere in July: it’s intolerably slow (I guess those little pesky notes don’t come so easy these days) and replete with every possible Flemingism one can imagine.

  on August 26, 2009 at 7:59 AM