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"Renee Fleming"
Surely, Fleming has one of the most
beautiful voices to be heard anywhere today. It combines velvety
warmth, creamy richness, soaring radiance, and flawless purity,
and seems to flow out without effort, every tone impeccably centered
and in tune, capable of almost too much variety of color and
nuance. Fleming's breath control is incredible; she can spin
out long, arching phrases and build up climaxes with thrilling
intensity. The program of this recital displays Fleming's vocal
and dramatic gifts to full advantage, and includes both familiar
and lesser-known arias from Italian and French operas. Although
some of these are not in her repertoire, she clearly feels close
to them. The three opening Puccini favorites from Gianni Schicchi,
Madama Butterfly, and La Bohème are a bit fussy and over-inflected,
hardly suited to the characters' simplicity; but, from then on,
Fleming seems completely at one with both her tragic and her
lighthearted heroines. She captures their warm inwardness, rapture,
passion, ecstasy, and desperation; darkening and lightening her
voice at will. Her top notes soar gloriously, her trills laugh.
The orchestra is splendid, supporting her all the way and sounding
wonderful. --Edith Eisler |
