Renée Fleming
Biography
Renée was born in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Rochester, New York. She enjoyed a happy suburban childhood, starting singing lessons at an early age with her singing-teacher parents.
She studied at the Crane School of Music at the State University of New York where she flirted with the idea of becoming a jazz singer before continuing her studies at New York's Juilliard.
In 2004, Renee released her autobiography, 'The Inner Voice'.
Music
Her first major break came in 1988 when she sang the Countess in 'The Marriage of Figaro' at the Houston Grand Opera. She followed this with debuts at the New York City Opera and the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. In 1991, she made her Metropolitan Opera debut. In 1997, Fleming sang her first 'Manon' at the Opéra Bastille to glowing reviews.
A mother of two girls, Renée is at the peak of her soprano's career. She has released a number of classical albums - including an album of spiritually inspired music called 'Sacred Arias' and a new recording of Richard Strauss's opera 'Daphne'.
She has also released a number of popular music recordings on the Polygram and Decca labels and has gone back to her jazz roots in later recordings.
Renee also appears on the soundtrack of 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' in which she sings in "Elvish".
Renee Fleming on Classic FM
Listen to Renee Fleming talking to Classic FM in August 2008.
Discography
2008 - Strauss: Four Last Songs
2006 - Homage - The Age of the Diva
2005 - Haunted Heart
Sacred Songs
2004 - Requiem (Verdi)
2003/2004 - Handel Arias
2003 - By Request
Under the Stars Broadway Duets with Bryn Terfel
2002 - Bel Canto Arias by Donizetti, Bellini, Rossini
2001 - Renée Fleming
Night Songs Lieder by Debussy, Fauré, Marx, Strauss, Rachmaninov
1999 - Star Crossed Lovers Duets with Plácido Domingo
Strauss Heroines
1998 - The Beautiful Voice
I Want Magic American Opera Arias
1997 - Schubert Lieder
Signatures Opera arias By Mozart, Verdi, Britten, Strauss, w. Georg Solti
Elijah (Mendelssohn)
1996 - Strauss Four Last Songs
Mozart Arias
