Renée Fleming: ‘All my dreams have come true!’
OperaThe American diva is in Paris, about to sing a role debut as president’s wife in John Adams’s Nixon in China. Fleming, 64, is also working with Gustavo Dudamel for the first time.
She’s talking here to forumopera.com:
‘The work was composed a long time ago now, and until now, the various stagings have always approached a certain historical truth, trying to faithfully represent the characters and what happened. On our side, we have taken more freedom. Certainly, if only by the costumes, you will of course have a precise and faithful idea of the characters who evolve on stage. Valetina Carrasco even inserted references to Ping Pong Diplomacy for example! But this staging brings a form of additional imagination, sparks,… delight. Valentina Carrasco managed to find a balance between some of the atrocities that occurred at this time in history and also a very poetic form of creativity….’
‘What are your plans for the future? Do you still have dreams to achieve?
‘I will continue my world tour with the pianist Evgeny Kissine. I also continue to play Penelope , by Previn, with the Emerson String Quartet and Uma Thurman. For upcoming projects, I am currently preparing a series of concerts around my CD recording Voice of Nature . As for a dream project…actually, I can say that at this stage of my career, all my dreams have come true!’
Best of luck Renee – outstanding voice and no need for any hype to maintain her star status.
I’m going to see this next week and am very excited!
Gorgeous to the max, and over 60. I’m jealous!!
Her performance of “Still Dream” by Alexandre Desplat.
Forgot the url. Perhaps a bit kitsch at times, but still nice because of the great voice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLB9Nb1pIV0
The lyrics to the song which was part of the children’s film “Rise of the Guardians” — based on a video game I think. Fleming’s comment made me wonder what happens when one no longer dreams. Also how Desplat set the song.
Time to close your eyes
Overlook the darkness
And try to dream tonight
Not so long ago
Your world was bright
So take a breath and count to ten
And maybe you can dream again
Still dream, and all the wonder that you knew
Will all come flying back to you
If you remember all the hope you left behind,
Open up your heart and change your mind
Oh, what you’ll find if you still dream
Fly away, beyond the moon
A place you’ve been before
Castles made of sand,
A golden shore
And every wish you ever made
is marching in a dream parade
Dream, and dream again!
Do you remember building bridges in the air
Every hope you had and every prayer
They’re all still there if you dream
Oh what you’ll find if you dream!
Time to close your eyes
But when you awake,
Still dream.