The face that launched
She without whom La Cieca would not cast a shadow, Renée Fleming, has a newly revamped website!
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I heard today from an eminent source that many of the best very young singers are now terrified to do anything expressive in the way of approaching a tone from below occasionally, classic portamento effects, etc. because they’re afraid they’ll “sound like Renée Fleming.”
Thus has her undiscriminating employment of legitimate devices given even proper use of them all a bad name.
“When I sing Violetta in Traviata, which I did in London this summer, and people come back and rediscover the opera, they’re in tears, they’ve been so moved.”
Maybe they’re bewailing the 215 pounds sterling they’ve just thrown away…
Not a bad site…..maybe a few too many portraits?
Listening to Renee’s early recordings from when she was a young artist, she didn’t sing in the same mannered style she uses now. That’s because as a young singer you have to show people that you know how to do it the “correct” way before you develop your own voice and personal artistic touches. But even 20 years ago she had her own distinctive voice. If the younger singers want to look down on Renee Fleming that’s their own choice. They can all sound just alike and have forgettable careers if they’re so terrified of being expressive or individual.
I know it’s been said around here, but I’d just say it again: that Fleming photo for ‘Dark Hope’ is sure a testimonial of how MILF-esque had she become these last three years.
The Fleming dilemma: world-class timbre, world-class technique, gutter-level choices over the years, but near the end she redeemed herself. It just need a tragedy (La Scala?) to become a proper opera. Or at least a film.
She will be a flash in the pan in years to come. People will remember Helen Jepson longer.
Who was Helen Jepson and when did she sing?
Wikipedia says 1935 to 1941. Wikipedia also says that in her one movie, she sang “Sempre Libra”, which I assume was nothing but a bunch of scales.
Now I know Quanto isn’t so old to have heard her live, is he?
Maybe not, but I did.