Renee Fleming

Opera Singer 

One of the most beloved and celebrated musical ambassadors of our time, soprano Renee Fleming captivates audiences with her sumptuous voice, consummate artistry, and compelling stage presence. Known as "the people's diva" and named the number one female singer by Salzburger Festspiele Magazin in 2010, she continues to grace the world's greatest opera stages and concert halls, now extending her reach to include other musical forms and media.

As a musical statesman, Renee Fleming has been sought after on numerous distinguished occasions, from the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony to performances in Beijing during the 2008 Olympic Games. In January 2009, Ms. Fleming was featured on the televised We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial concert. She has performed for the US Supreme Court, HRH The Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace, and, in November 2009, celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Czech Republic's "Velvet Revolution" at the invitation of Vaclav Havel. In 2008, Ms. Fleming became the first woman in the 125-year history of the Metropolitan Opera to solo headline an opening night gala.

In the 2011-12 season, Renee Fleming reprised her celebrated portrayal of Handel's Rodelinda at the Metropolitan Opera, conducted by Harry Bicket. She began the season as Donizetti's Lucrezia Borgia under the baton of Riccardo Frizza at San Francisco Opera; sang Strauss's Ariadne auf Naxos at Baden-Baden in a new production by Philippe Arlaud, conducted by Christian Thielemann; and will appear in the title role of Arabella at the Paris Opera, conducted by Philippe Jordan. Last fall, at the invitation of the Sultan of Oman, Renee Fleming headlined a gala concert for the grand opening of the new Royal Opera House in Muscat. She joined Dmitri Hvorostovsky and Sir Andrew Davis in a duo concert at Lyric Opera of Chicago, sang Strauss's Four Last Songs with Christoph Eschenbach and the London Philharmonic, and returned to Carnegie Hall with the MET Orchestra in Mahler's Ruckert-Lieder. Her April Live from Lincoln Center telecast Renee Fleming @ the Penthouse, with a guest appearance by Josh Groban, was seen around the world. Her concert calendar includes galas and recitals across the US and Canada, and an upcoming tour of South America.

A three-time Grammy winner, Ms. Fleming won the 2010 Grammy Award for Best Classical Vocal Performance for Verismo (Decca), a collection of rarely-heard Italian arias. In 2010, Decca and Mercury records released the CD Dark Hope, which features Ms. Fleming covering songs by indie-rock and pop artists. Recent DVDs include Massenet's Thais and Rossini's Armida, from the Metropolitan Opera Live in HD series, and Verdi's La Traviata, filmed at London's Royal Opera House. Ms. Fleming's 2010 DVD Renee Fleming & Dmitri Hvorostovsky: A Musical Odyssey in St. Petersburg follows Ms. Fleming and baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky to Russia, to perform in some of St. Petersburg's most historic locations. In recent years, this thirteen-time Grammy nominated artist has recorded everything from Strauss's complete Daphne to the jazz album Haunted Heart to the movie soundtrack of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Her recording honors range from the 2009 Echo Award for Strauss's Four Last Songs to the Prix Maria Callas Orphee d'Or for Capriccio. In February, 2012, Ms. Fleming received the Victoire d'Honneur, the highest award conveyed by the French Victoires de la Musique.

Ms. Fleming is a champion of new music, performing recent works by contemporary composers Henri Dutilleux, Brad Mehldau, Andre Previn, and Wayne Shorter. Among her numerous awards are the Fulbright Lifetime Achievement Medal (2011); Sweden's Polar Prize (2008); the Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur from the French government (2005); Honorary Membership in the Royal Academy of Music (2003); and Honorary Doctorates from the Eastman School of Music (2011) and The Juilliard School (2003). Her book, The Inner Voice, an intimate account of her career and creative process, was published by Viking Penguin in 2004.

Renee Fleming has represented Rolex timepieces in print advertising since 2001. In 2008, she launched the fragrance La Voce by Renee Fleming, with the proceeds benefiting the Metropolitan Opera. Having been added to Mr. Blackwell's best dressed list, her concert gowns have been designed by Reem Acra, Gianfranco Ferre, John Galliano for Dior, Douglas Hannant, Christian Lacroix, Oscar de la Renta, Angel Sanchez and Vivienne Westwood. Ms. Fleming has appeared on The Martha Stewart Show, Spectacle: Elvis Costello with..., The View and Prairie Home Companion as "Renata Flambe," among numerous other media outlets. Ms. Fleming has hosted a wide variety of television and radio broadcasts, including the Metropolitan Opera's Live in HD series for movie theaters and television.

Ms. Fleming is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of the Carnegie Hall Corporation, the Board of Sing for Hope, and the Advisory Board of the White Nights Foundation of America. In 2010, she was named the first ever Creative Consultant at Lyric Opera of Chicago. She is currently curating the creation of a world-premiere opera based on the best-seller Bel Canto for Lyric Opera's 2015-2016 season.