Renée Fleming soprano
Olga Kern piano
Celebrity Series of Boston
Symphony Hall--Sunday, February 8, 2015
Neither snow, sleet or ice could keep Renée Fleming and Olga Kern away from Symphony Hall nor the enthusiastic audience from enjoying their magical performance.
Robert Schumann Frauen und lieben, Opus 42
-a cycle of 8 songs
Intermission
Sergei Rachmaninoff --6 songs plus a solo by Olga Kern called "Lilacs," which Ms Kern told us was Rachmaninoff's favorite flower
Richard Strauss--5 songs
Ms Fleming and Ms Kern concluded with 4 encores:
Strauss--"Cäcilie"
George Gershwin--"Summertime" from Porgy and Bess
Lerner and Loewe--"I Could Have Danced All Night"
from My Fair Lady
Ms Fleming sang "I Could Have Danced All Night" in light operatic style; then she invited the audience to sing along with her on the 2nd chorus, which we did with gusty enthusiasm.
Puccini--"O Mio Babbino Caro" from Gianni Schicchi
Ms Fleming gains audience rapport effortlessly with her delightful charm, warmth and wit. In between numbers she chats with her adoring public. She confided that "O Mio Babbino Caro" was her absolute favorite and that she likes to conclude every recital with this well-known Puccini aria from Gianni Schicchi. The internationally acclaimed soprano is referred to as the People's Diva, and rightly so.
Both luminaries attended the post-performance reception and interacted warmly with the guests, often posing graciously with guests for photos.
The whole afternoon was a lovely, joyful experience...a treasured memory.
Renée Fleming comes to Boston every 2 years under the aegis of Celebrity Series of Boston. In 2013 Ms Fleming and Susan Graham, the highly acclaimed mezzo-soprano, shared the stage, "We are inviting you into our salon." And, indeed, we did feel that we were in an intimate, warm salon! For my post on this performance click here:
At Super Bowl 2014 Ms Fleming sang a stunning rendition of our National Anthem.
In April 2015 the multifaceted soprano will star on Broadway in a comedy called "Living on Love."
Melanie Snider for the Boston Herald review, click here:
Angelo Mao for Boston Classical Review, click here:
Susan Miron for The Boston Musical Intelligencer, click here:
David Bonetti for the Berkshire Fine Arts, click here:
Ms Fleming sings "I Could Have Danced All Night"-Staatskapelle Dresden-Maestro Christian Thielemann
An interview with Renée Fleming at the New Year's concert "Berlin Meets Broadway" at the Staatskapelle Dresden with excerpts from operettas and musicals sung by Ms Fleming and tenor Florian Vogt under the baton of Maestro Christian Thieleman
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