Renée Fleming

Renée Fleming (born February 14, 1959), is an accomplished American soprano specializing in opera and lieder. Fleming possesses an agile full lyric soprano voice that provides ringing freedom and apparent ease near the extreme top of its range. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9400E7DB1439F937A2575AC0A961958260&scp=109&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt NYT September 14, 1997] ] Although lyrical in nature, Fleming's voice has a substantial amount of flexibility which allows her to sing a variety of roles from the coloratura soprano, lyric soprano, and lighter spinto repertoires. Her linguistic proficiency, too, serves as an asset -- she has sung roles in Italian, German, French, Czech, and Russian, aside from her native English; indeed, she speaks fluent German and French, along with limited Italian.Her signature roles include Countess Almaviva in Mozart's "Le nozze di Figaro", Desdemona in Verdi's "Otello", Violetta in Verdi's "La traviata", the title role in Dvorak's "Rusalka", the title role in Massenet's "Manon", the title role in Massenet's "Thaïs", and the Marschallin in Richard Strauss' "Der Rosenkavalier". A Richard Tucker Award winner, Fleming is generally considered one of the world's leading classical sopranos; she regularly performs in opera houses and concert halls worldwide. In 2008 she was awarded the Swedish Polar Prize for her services in music.Renowned conductor Sir George Solti said of Fleming, "In my long life, I have met maybe two sopranos with this quality of singing, the other was Renata Tebaldi." [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9400E7DB1439F937A2575AC0A961958260&scp=109&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt NYT September 14, 1997] ]

Early life and education

A daughter of two music teachers, Fleming was born in Indiana, Pennsylvania and grew up in Rochester, New York. She has a brother and sister, both also devoted to the study of music.

As a youngster, Fleming enjoyed popular music and admired the talent of Joni Mitchell among others. In addition to the standard operatic repertoire, she performs new music, Broadway show tunes, and other popular genres.

She studied with Pat Misslin at the Crane School of Music at the State University of New York at Potsdam. While at SUNY-Potsdam, she took up singing with a jazz trio in an off-campus bar called Alger's. The jazz saxophonist Illinois Jacquet invited her on tour with his big band, but she chose instead to continue with graduate studies at the Eastman School of Music with voice teacher Jan DeGaetani. She won a Fulbright Scholarship which enabled her to work in Europe with Arleen Augér and Elisabeth Schwarzkopf. This was followed by further studies at The Juilliard School. While at Julliard she sang in roles with the Julliard Opera Center, appearing as Musetta in Puccini's "La boheme" and the Wife in Menotti's "Tamu-Tamu" among others. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE0DD1638F932A25751C1A965948260&scp=1&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt New York Times 1983] ] [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE5D9163CF935A15757C0A961948260&scp=4&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt New York Times April 26, 1987] ]

Career

Fleming first began performing professionally in smaller concerts and with small opera companies while still a graduate student at Juilliard. She sang frequently in the "Musica Viva" concert series sponsored by the New York Unitarian Church of All Souls during the 1980s. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C04E7DF123BF93AA25751C0A962958260&scp=48&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt NYT February 19, 1994] ] In 1984 she sang nine songs by Hugo Wolf in the world premiere of Eliot Feld's ballet "Adieu", which she again performed in 1987 and 1989 at the Joyce Theater. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D00E2DA1438F935A25757C0A962948260&scp=2&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt New York Times April 16, 1984] ] In 1986 she sang her first major operatic role, Konstanze in "Die Entführung aus dem Serail", at the Salzburg Landestheater. Two years later she portrayed Thalie, Clarine and La Folie in Jean-Philippe Rameau's "Platee" with the Piccolo Teatro Dell Opera. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE5DE173EF936A25753C1A96E948260&scp=8&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt New York Times October 15, 1988] ]

Fleming's first major break came in 1988 when she won the Metropolitan Opera Auditions at age 29. That same year she sang the Countess in "The Marriage of Figaro" in her debut with Houston Grand Opera. She reprised the role the following year in her debut at the Spoleto Festival. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE5DF1739F933A05756C0A96F948260&scp=11&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt New York Times May 30, 1989] ] Also in 1989, Fleming made her debut with the New York City Opera as Mimi in "La Boheme" and her debut with the Royal Opera at Covent Garden as Dirce in Cherubini's "Médée". She also was awarded a Richard Tucker Career Grant and won the George London Competition. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE3DE143AF934A15757C0A96F948260&scp=10&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt NYT April 27, 1989] ] [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE0DE1E3DF93BA2575BC0A96F948260&scp=12&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt NYT August 18, 1989] ]

In 1990 she was once again honored by the Richard Tucker Music Foundation but this time with the highly coveted Richard Tucker Award. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CEFD71F3BF931A35756C0A966958260&scp=14&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt NYT May 2, 1990] ] That same year she made her debut with Seattle Opera in her first portrayal of the tile role in "Rusalka", a role that she has sense recorded and reprised at many of the world's great opera houses. She also sang for the 50th Anniversary of the American Ballet Theater in their production of Eliot Feld's "Les Noces" and returned to the New York City Opera to sing both the Countess in "Le nozze di Figaro" and Micaela in Bizet's "Carmen". In addition, she sang the title role in Donizetti's "Lucrezia Borgia" with the Opera Orchestra of New York [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE4DA1739F93AA35756C0A966958260&scp=15&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt May 9, 1990] ] [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE3D81F3EF931A3575BC0A966958260&scp=16&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt NYT August 2, 1990] ]

In 1991, Fleming made her Metropolitan Opera and San Francisco Opera debut portraying Countess Almaviva in "Le nozze di Figaro". Fleming was originally not scheduled to make her Met debut until the next season, but ended up making it earlier than expected by stepping into replace Felicity Lott who had become ill. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE7D6123FF932A15750C0A967958260&scp=21&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt NYT March 21, 1991] ] She returned to the Met later that that year to sing Rosina in the world premiere of John Corigliano's "The Ghosts of Versailles". That same year she made her Carnegie Hall debut performing music by Ravel with the New York City Opera Orchestra, sang Rusalka with Houston Grand Opera, and made her debut at the Tanglewood Festival as Ilia in Mozart's "Idomeneo" with Seiji Ozawa and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CEEDE113CF93BA25751C0A967958260&scp=20&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt NYT February 18, 1991] ] [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE0D81131F935A25754C0A967958260&scp=23&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt NYT July 16, 1991] ]

In 1992, Fleming made her debut with Grand Théâtre de Genève as Fiordiligi in Mozart's "Così fan tutte". [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CEED61F3BF936A35752C0A964958260&scp=28&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt NYT January 5, 1992] ] She also sang the role of Anna in Francois Adrien Boieldieu's "La dame blanche" at Carnegie Hall with the Opera Orchestra of New York and the role of Fortuna in Mozart's "Il sogno di Scipione" at Alice Tully Hall, as part of Lincoln Center's "Festival of Mozart Operas in Concert". [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE6DB163AF932A35751C0A964958260&scp=31&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt NYT February 1, 1992] ] [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CEEDD1131F933A1575BC0A964958260&scp=32&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt NYT August 20, 1992] ] In 1993, Fleming sang the role of Alaide in Bellini's "La straniera" with the Opera Orchestra of New York, made her debut at the Rossini Festival in the title role of Rossini's "Armide", and her debut with the Lyric Opera of Chicago in the title role of Carlisle Floyd's "Susannah". [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE6D71E3BF933A25751C0A965958260&scp=35&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt NYT February 10, 1993] ] She also gave her New York City solo recital debut at Alice Tully Hall to great acclaim. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE7DA143AF932A05750C0A965958260&scp=36&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt NYT March 31, 1993] ] She also sang her first Pamina in Mozart's "The Magic Flute" at the Metropolitan Opera and performed Berg's "Lulu" with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and James Levine. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE4D8163DF930A25757C0A965958260&scp=37&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt April 13, 1993] ] [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE7DF173DF93BA35756C0A965958260&scp=38&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt NYT May 8, 1993] ] She also sang the world premiere of Joan Tower's "Fanfare" with Pinchas Zukerman and the Aspen Chamber Symphony [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE7D9173CF935A25756C0A965958260&scp=39&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt NYT May 16, 1993] ] and the world premiere of John Kander's "Letter From Sullivan Ballou" at the Richard Tucker Awards ceremony. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE4D91F3CF935A25751C1A965958260&scp=45&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt NYT December 16, 1993] ]

In 1994, Fleming sang her first Desdemona in Verdi's "Otello" and her first Ellen Orford in Benjamin Britten's "Peter Grimes" with the Metropolitan Opera. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B04E6D81631F935A25757C0A962958260&scp=50&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt NYT April 16, 1994] ] She also made her debut at the Glyndebourne Festival as the Countess in "Le nozze di Figaro". [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9801E7D91E3BF930A35755C0A962958260&scp=51&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt NYT June 3, 1994] ] She also performed the role of Madame de Tourvel in the world premiere of Conrad Susa's "The Dangerous Liaisons" and sang the role of Salome in Massenet's "Herodiade" with the San Francisco Opera. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C07E6DE143BF930A2575AC0A962958260&scp=54&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt NYT September 13, 1994] ]

In 1995 Fleming portrayed the role of the Marschallin in "Der Rosenkavalier" with Houston Grand Opera, sang Herodiade with the Opera Orchestra of New York at Carnegie Hall, and sang Rusalka with the San Francisco Opera. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE4DA1E3DF935A25751C0A963958260&scp=60&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt NYT February 16, 1995] ] She also sang Fiordiligi in "Cosi fan tutte" with Solti at Royal Festival Hall and gave a lauded recital at the Morgan Library. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9904E4D81639F931A35752C1A963958260&scp=72&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt NYT November 2, 1995] ] She further signed an exclusive recording contract with the London/Decca label, making her the first American singer in 31 years to do so (Marilyn Horne was the last). [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9406E7DD1639F937A25750C0A960958260&scp=76&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt NYT March 14, 1996] ]

In 1996, Fleming sang the title role in Rossini's "Armida" and the role of Fiordiligi in "Cosi fan tutte" at the Met and performed the soprano solos in the Verdi "Requiem" with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990DE5D61339F933A25752C0A960958260&scp=73&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt NYT January 10, 1996] ] She also sang her first Marguerite in Gounod's "Faust" with Chicago Lyric Opera and sang the role of Donna Anna in Mozart's "Don Giovanni" with Opéra National de Paris at the reopening of the Palais Garnier with Sir Georg Solti. She was also chosen by Solti to be the first recipient of the Solti Prize, to be given to an outstanding younger singer. The award is given by the Academie du Disque Lyrique in a ceremony equivalent to the Grammy Awards. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A03E5DA1639F931A25750C0A960958260&scp=75&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt NYT March 12, 1996] ] Fleming also made debut at the Bayreuth Festival as Eva in Wagner's "Meistersinger". [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9400E7DB1439F937A2575AC0A961958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2 NYT September 14, 1997] ] Her other performances that year included recitals at the Edinburgh International Festival and at Alice Tully Hall. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C04E3D91E39F932A35755C0A960958260&scp=81&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt NYT June 1, 1996] ]

In 1997, Fleming sang the Marschallin in Strauss's "Der Rosenkavalier" and her first "Manon" at the Opéra Bastille, receiving glowing reviews. She reprised the role at the Metropolitan Opera along with singing Marguerite in "Faust" and Rusalka. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B01E0DE133BF937A15750C0A961958260&scp=104&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt NYT March 24, 1997] ] She also performed in concert twice with the New York Philharmonic, first under the baton of Zubin Mehta performing a selection of opera arias, and second singing Mozart's "Exsultate Jubilate" and three songs of Richard Strauss with Kurt Masur. She also performed at the Ravinia Festival with the Chicago Symphony and performed Samuel Barber's "" with the Orchestra of St. Luke's under Andre Previn. She gave several recitals as well at such notable places as the Salzburg Festival. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9907E2D61E30F931A35752C0A961958260&scp=92&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt NYT January 2, 1997] ]

In 1998, Fleming sang the title role in Richard Strauss' "Arabella" with Houston Grand Opera and the Countess with Lyric Opera of Chicago. She also sang the title role in Carlisle Floyd's "Susannah" and Countess Almaviva in a landmark production of "Le nozze di Figaro" at the Met. The Mozart production also stared Cecilia Bartoli, Susanne Mentzer, Dwayne Croft, and Bryn Terfel and was broadcast on PBS' "Great Performances". [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9803E4DB173EF932A35750C0A96E958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2 NYT March 1, 1998] ] She also made her Carnegie Hall recital debut. She also sang Richard Strauss's "Death and Transfiguration" and "The Four Last Songs" with Claudio Abbado and the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra at the Salzburg Festival. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C06E3DA1331F936A25750C0A96E958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=3 NYT March 15, 1998] ] She also originated the roles of Blanche DuBois in the world première André Previn's "A Streetcar Named Desire" with the San Francisco Opera. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DE7DA163EF930A2575AC0A96E958260&scp=142&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt NYT September 13, 1998] ] Fleming also performed Strauss' "Four Last Songs" with the Berlin Philharmonic.

In 1999, Fleming appeared at the Bavarian State Opera as the Marschallin in "Der Rosenkavalier". She returned to Carnegie Hall to great success with a concert of German lieder. She also performed in recital with Andre Previn and made her debut at the Schleswig-Holstein Festival. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A04E4DA1E39F93AA15752C0A96F958260&scp=169&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt NYT January 29, 1999] ] She also won a Grammy Award for her CD ""The Beautiful Voice". She also performed the title role in Handel's "Alcina" with Les Arts Florissants and conductor William Christie and with the Lyric Opera of Chicago. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A01EFD8113EF934A15754C0A96F958260&scp=189&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt NYT July 27, 1999] ] She also sang the title role in Charpentier's "Louise" with San Francisco Opera and Theatre du Capitole. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C00E3DA1E38F93AA1575BC0A96F958260&scp=190&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt NYT August 29, 1999] ] Fleming closed out the year by performing for President Bill Clinton at the White House for a Christmas celebration. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E03E6DE133EF935A35751C1A96F958260&scp=197&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt NYT December 6, 1999] ]

In 2000, Fleming appeared at the Metropolitan Opera and at Covent Garden as the Marschallin in "Der Rosenkavalier" and sang the title role in Donizetti's "Lucrezia Borgia" with the Opera Orchestra of New York. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9406E5DD113FF935A35751C0A9669C8B63&scp=212&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt NYT February 6, 2000] ] She also appeared as Donna Anna in Mozart's "Don Giovanni" at the Salzburg Festival and the Met. She performed with the Orchestra of St. Luke's, under Mark Elder as part of the PBS series "Live From Lincoln Center" and with the Boston Symphony Orchestra in Haydn's "Creation" under James Levine. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0DE1D71E3BF932A15756C0A9669C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=3 NYT May 21, 2000] ]

In 2001, Fleming sang Desdemona in "Otello" with the Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Marschallin with San Francisco Opera.

In 2003, Fleming sang the title role in Jules Massenet's "Thaïs" with the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

In 2006, Fleming performed a solo concert at the Lyric Opera of Chicago with Sir Andrew Davis and sang Violetta in Verdi's "La traviata" with Los Angeles Opera.

In 2007, Fleming sang Violetta with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Tatyana in "Eugene Onegin" at the Metropolitan Opera, Arabella with Zurich Opera, and Thaïs at the Théâtre du Châtelet, Royal Opera, and the Liceu.

In 2008, Fleming sang Violetta and Desdemona at the Metropolitan Opera, die Gräfin (the Countess) in "Capriccio" at the Vienna State Opera, Tatyana at the Tanglewood Festival, and Lucrezia Borgia at the Washington National Opera.

In 2009, Fleming is scheduled to sing Thaïs and Rusalka at the Metropolitan Opera and the Marschallin at the Baden Baden Festival and the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées.

Personal life

Fleming married Rick Ross, an actor, and they have two daughters together, Amelia and Sage. The couple divorced in 1998. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9400E7DB1439F937A2575AC0A961958260&scp=109&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt NYT September 14, 1997] ] [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C05E0D9103FF930A35752C1A96E958260&scp=153&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt NYT November 3, 1998] ]

Popular recordings

Fleming has released a number of popular music recordings on the Decca label, which is part of the Universal Music Group. She also appears on the soundtrack of the 2003 film ' in which she sings in Sindarin. Her voice, along with those of Isabel Bayrakdarian and Sheila Chandra are considered musically representative of [Arwen] , and by extension the Elves. Her singing can be heard when Arwen sees a vision of her child (cue: Twilight & Shadow), when Gollum first holds the ring (cue: The End of All Things), when the eagles carry Frodo and Sam off Mt. Doom (cue: 'The Eagles' from The End of All Things), and when Arwen is revealed at Aragorn's coronation (cue: 'Arwen Revealed' from The Return of The King"'). Renee Fleming also recorded the duet "O soave fanciulla" with Michael Bolton.

TV, radio and record guest appearances

Fleming is gifted with a notable sense of humor. She appeared on the children's show "Sesame Street" singing a lively rendition of "Caro nome" from Rigoletto, replacing the traditional Italian text with lyrics intended to aid children learning to count.

She has performed several times on Garrison Keillor's popular public radio program "A Prairie Home Companion."

Fleming appeared as a "Special Guest Vocalist" on Joe Jackson's 1994 album Night Music on the song "Lullaby."

Partial discography

* "Strauss Four Last Songs" RCA 1996
* "Mozart Arias" Decca 1996
* "Schubert Lieder" Decca 1997
* "Signatures" Opera arias By Mozart, Verdi, Britten, Strauss, w. Georg Solti, Decca 1997
* "Elijah" (Mendelssohn) Decca 1997
* "The Beautiful Voice" Decca 1998
* "I Want Magic" American Opera Arias, Decca 1998
* "Star Crossed Lovers" Duets with Plácido Domingo, Decca 1999
* "Strauss Heroines" Decca 1999
* "Renée Fleming" Decca 2001
* "Night Songs" Lieder by Debussy, Fauré, Marx, Strauss, Rachmaninov, Decca 2001
* "Bel Canto" Arias by Donizetti, Bellini, Rossini, Decca 2002
* "Under the Stars" Broadway Duets with Bryn Terfel, Decca 2003
* "By Request" Decca 2003
* "Handel Arias" Decca 2003/2004
* "Requiem" (Verdi) Philips 2004
* "Haunted Heart" Decca 2005
* "Sacred Songs" Decca 2005
* "Homage - The Age of the Diva" Decca 2006
* "Tchaikovsky: Eugene Onegin" Decca 2008

Honors

* In 2000, Chef Daniel Boulud named a dessert, "La Diva Renee", after her. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE0D61639F931A15751C1A96F958260&scp=199&sq=%22Renee+Fleming%22&st=nyt NYT December 22, 1999] ]

References

Sources

* Fleming, Renee. "The Inner Voice: the Making of a Singer". Paperback ed. New York: Penguin Group, 2004. ISBN 9780143035947

External links

* [http://www.reneefleming.com/ Renée Fleming's official website]
* [http://www.renee-fleming.com/ Renée Fleming - Fansite]
* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:bloibkh96akz~T0/ All Music Guide pop music entry - Renée Fleming]
* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=41:23812/ All Music Guide classical music entry-- Renée Fleming]
* [http://www.npr.org/programs/pt/features/fleming.html NPR interview-- Renee Fleming]