Customer Reviews

Renee Fleming - The Beautiful Voice ~ Gounod, Lehar, Orff, Puccini, Rachmaninov, Strauss

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

First, I am not an opera connoseur. Whilst I do appreciate classical and opera, I do not have the knowledge of other reviewers when it comes to having this album reviewed. However, I can't help but include myself in Ms. Fleming's legion of admirers and I felt I must write something about this extraordinary album.

I already have ALL of Renee Fleming's cd's but I shall always go back to this one as her very best, a vehicle if there ever was one, no wonder, her fans just absolutely adore it. Barbra Streisand has always been my favourite singer and there never was a second one. Until now. Renee has absolutely commanded my respect. Her talent, specially her voice is a wonder to behold. it has been described as creamy, tremulouus, rich, like being enveloped in warm silk, honey-like. Listening to her is like watching Michaelangelo paint the Sistine Chapel, it is an experience of joy.

Her Mariettas Lied is the most hypnotic version I've ever heard, her voice soars and she is in absolute control, the beauty will just take your breath away. Chi Il Bel Sogno is a knockout. Goosebumps. The famous Rachmaninov Vocalise is also beautiful. My favourite amongst all is Bailero. For years, I have admired Kiri Te Kanawa's seductive version of this piece but Fleming's version is so awesome that the opening verse, "Pastre de delai l'aio, as gaiire de boun tems..." is worth the price alone of this cd. Her thick and creamy voice is the MOST beautiful soprano the art of music has ever produced.

Yes, many critics have pointed out her tendency to over-inflect and "Flemingise" arias. But this is just an exhibition of her genius as a soprano, aren't all great singers blamed for making it appear that songs were tailor-made for them? Yes she does inject her own brand of style and technique but they are so beautiful to listen to that I don't understand what the fuss are all about? (How Bel Canto was lambasted!)

I know some people who are lions guarding the celestial gates of opera that have elevated Caballe, Callas, Sutherland as goddesses and have a responsibility to be loyal, But
Renee Fleming is here and she is THE greatest among all of them.I have curiouly bought works of these women, they are good but Miss Fleming's voice is complete, powerful and perfect. Yes, perfect.

All of us her fans will make sure that Miss Fleming will continue to burn her bright flame and more of your music. Brava! Brava!

This is a great CD. "Chi il bel sogno di Doretta" is my favorite track. Ms. Fleming's voice is lovely. I don't understand the incessant need of some reviewers to downrate modern opera recordings. Yes, there were some magnificent singers in the past; however, there are magnificent singers today too. Ms. Fleming is one of them. It would be a shame to miss out on the lovliness of this recording as a show of loyalty to a singer of the past. This is a great CD and you won't be sorry you purchased it. It has the lyrics to the songs printed in the language in which they're sung along with an English translation where needed. This is an excellent addition to an opera or vocal music collection.

You will love this CD. I heard a friend playing it and knew that I would have to get it some day. It is truly gorgeous.

I am amazed by some of the reviewers who can dare to give this recording fewer than five stars. I know there are some opera perfectionists out there who can be fickle, but this recording is gorgeous. I'm willing to concede that Renee Fleming may not be the greatest opera singer the world has had in the last 100 years, but her voice is what the title says--beautiful. Fleming has worked hard to get where she is today and it shows. Jeffrey Tate seems to do a fine job, and he doesn't get in the way.

Fleming sings each aria with flair, amazing presence, and musical integrity. Each aria showcases her voice, and yet is quite musically inspiring. "Chi il bel sogno" by Puccini and "Marietta's Lied" by Korngold (an oft-overlooked composer) are among my favorites. I also like the aria from Carmina Burana as well as the one from Manon. If you click on the Manon aria (Track 3) to listen online, you will be sold on the CD.

If you don't know anything about opera, you will love this recording. If you are an opera fanatic--no matter who your "favorite" soprano is--you will be forced to admit the singing here deserves instant respect.

Although Renee Fleming seems to stir strong opinions, this writer generally adores her work, and on this project there is unmistakable artistry on display. The combination of Fleming's instrument, Jeffrey Tate's sensitive accompaniment, and the not-insignificant contribution of the English Chamber Orchestra makes a memorable recording.

The highlight for me is the moving "Marietta's Lied" by Korngold; for awhile following September 11, 2001, Fleming performed it as an (entirely appropriate) encore on her recitals. "In trutina," from Orff's Carmina Burana, has both purity and gentleness, as does Richard Strauss' touching "Morgen!" The project as a whole seems to have a nice balance between the more lyrical numbers such as these, and vocal fireworks like her track from Manon.

Jeffrey Tate, whose work is sorely missed by this U.S. listener, does his usual superb and tasteful job, and the English Chamber Orchestra sounds positively glowing. Decca's sound is clear with lots of presence, capturing the instrumental passages such as the beautiful violin solo in "Morgen!" as naturally as Fleming's voice.

All told, a gorgeous recording, and possibly one of Fleming's best to date.

Since many people feel the need to compare Renee Fleming to Dame Joan Sutherland I guess I will too. Both have big, full bodied voices, Sutherland's is rounder, Fleming's has much better projection (By that I mean that her voice naturally contains more of the upper overtones of the overtone series which makes it easier for her to fill a hall with her voice, those with more of the fundamental tone like Sutherland have to work a little harder to get her voice to the back of the hall and sometimes can sound duller). Both have a particularly fine vocal trill technique and considerable vocal range. Fleming has absolutley clear diction so that you har every word clearly, Sutherland sacrificed diction for tone to the point that most of the words weren't distinguishable. Both are magnificent musicians, Fleming has a tendency to be overly dramatic at points. When you add it all up these two sopranos are pretty much even. So if you approach this cd with the notion that Fleming can't compare to Sutherland you're really going to miss out on some beautiful music. Some tracks of particular note are a splendid rendition of Che il bel sogno di Doretta, Morgen, and Rachmaninov's Vocalise. Fleming's vibrato is very natural and not forced or overly wide. Fleming is already showing all of the characteristics of a mature vocalist. All in all, this is an essential cd to any music fan. Highest Recommendation.

I still remember the first time I heard Renee Fleming sing--more than 10 years ago--when she sang the Countess in a Houston Grand Opera production of Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro". When she made her first appearance at the beginning of the second act to sing "Porgi amor", I was stunned at the absolute beauty and power of Ms. Fleming's voice. Where in the world had this gorgeous voice come from, and why hadn't I heard of her before? I knew that night she would become known as a truly great singer, and I was right. I've been collecting her recordings through the years, and this one is a gem. The music can appeal to those of us who are opera fans and those who aren't. By all means, buy this CD--you might have to buy two after you wear out the first one listening to it all the time!

I initially read a captivating review on Renee Fleming in Europe last summer, and purchased "The Beautiful Voice" album via the Internet upon my return. It has become my favorite and most treasured CD. I was thrilled to see her receive a 1999 Grammy for this album, in the Category "Best Classical Vocal Performance". The album, together with a booklet with the texts, including translations, includes songs which she "loves to sing". Never mind that the collection is a bit mumbo-jumbo; simply every song is a treat, and I have difficulty picking a favorite, however, for me the standouts from this outstanding group are #3, "Je marche sur tous les chemins..." from Massenet's Manon -- it is simply glorious and full of exuberance, and #11, "Klaenge der Heimat" from Johann Strauss' Fledermaus -- a song filled at once with melancholy, at once with fire. The voice is so captivating, that the texts, the words, seem to not matter at all, no matter what language they are sung in. A simply indescribably beautiful voice!

I had the opportunity to hear Renee Fleming sing Strauss' Four Last Songs at the Ravinia Festival last summer. It was my first experience hearing her live. Wow -- truly a captivating voice *and* personna. There are not very many singers who have the ability to truly transmit emotion through recordings. Many have communicated beautiful music, as is the case here --> few can communicate emotion. Ms. Fleming is the rare and delightful exception. I have listened to this recording numerous times. Every time I do I hear something different --> a different small inflection, a different intentional portamento, any number of small and important things she does to make the music come to life! I'm so glad she one a Grammy for this recording!

I purchased Renee Fleming's "The Beautiful Voice" after hearing her on the national public radio station. Truly enchanted by her incredible vocal talent, I bought the CD. It has only deepened my enchantment with her awesome talent. In an interview with Renee Fleming that I read, she said that she had decided to choose songs for the recording that she had always enjoyed singing, regardless of how well they suited her voice. Judging from every sparkling song on this CD, I believe that there is no song that could not perfectly compliment Fleming's voice. I give "The Beautiful Voice" 5 golden stars.

I am a 19-year-old voice student at the University of Central Arkansas and I came across Renee by way of a soprano in my voice studio. She said it was her favorite soprano and that I should give her a listen. I was a little hesistant because I'm a baritone and my voice teacher told me that I should listen to men, but I just want to hear it all. So this past summer I first bought Renee's self-titled album with all of the lolipop arias on it and I was just amazed, not just because of how good she is but how easy she is to listen to. I loved her voice immediately. From the the moment the first tone passed through her throat on Puccini's "O Mio Babbino Caro." So I had to hear more. The Beautiful Voice is even better. It wasn't as easy to listen to at first because some of the songs on this album are not as famous as those on the other one, but these songs are all gems. The Korngold with the pianissimi B flats is my personal favorite. Even my mother who screams at me to turn down that "noise" when I listen to opera cds has grown to be quite fond of Renee Fleming. Sometimes her interpretations can be over the top, but the voice is beyond spectacular. It pours out like melted butter. It's vibrant, rich, expressive, free and always perfectly in tune. There is no hint of strain from any sound emitted from her body. She will undoubtedly be remembered like Callas & Sutherland and all the other great soprano voices before her. Not for the dramatic intensity of Callas or the coloratura & technical ease of Sutherland, but for the sheer unspeakable beauty of her voice. This is a must have for any vocalist seriously dedicated to classical training.