Ruth Leon recommends… Ladies and Gentlemen, Miss Renee Fleming
Ruth Leon recommendsLadies and Gentlemen, Miss Renee Fleming
Last week on the Theatrewise Blog, we accessed a concert of romantic songs from Berlin’s Waldbuhne, performed by the most important American opera singer of our time, Renee Fleming, still singing in recital at the end of her operatic career. I thought you might enjoy seeing her at a much earlier stage in this documentary by Tony Palmer, made in 2002.
This film was the first major exploration of the life and career of the great American soprano – for many the epitome of the modern-day diva. It includes an intimate visit with Renée behind the scenes, at home and on stage as she rehearses and performs in Verdi’s Otello and Requiem, and sings Strauss, Mozart, Dvorák, Korngold, Ellington, Gershwin, Puccini, Massenet, and Rachmaninov.
But it begins with my favourite ever glimpse of Fleming, singing with Muppet piglets in a Muppets Show clip. Even if you don’t watch the whole film, do not, under any circumstances, miss the first five minutes. Priceless.
As for singing with the Muppets…she’s following in the inimitable steps of, among many others, Miss Beverly Sills.
And Marilyn Horne’s memorable rendition of “C is for Cookie.”
As well as the Carreras performance of the tragic opera recounting Ernie’s loss of his Rubber Ducky …
Two cultural icons coming together!