Renée Fleming: Bel Canto

Gioacchino Rossini (Artist), Patrick Summers (Artist), Orchestra of St. Luke's (Artist), Vincenzo Bellini (Composer), Renee Fleming (Orchestra)

Product Details

• Orchestra: Renee Fleming
• Composer: Vincenzo Bellini
• Audio CD (August 27, 2002)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B00006589U
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (110 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #16,399 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Surely Renée Fleming's soprano must be one of the most beautiful voices before the public today. Though renowned for her interpretations of Mozart, Strauss, and Verdi, as well as for her commitment to contemporary music, she says that the bel canto repertoire has always been central to her career. On this recording, which features scenes and arias from operas by Bellini, Donizetti, and Rossini, she proves that she has achieved total, effortless technical mastery of the uniquely difficult vocal writing characteristic of the style. Every note is perfectly placed. Her runs, including scales over a huge range in both directions, are as clear and evenly paced as a chain of exquisite pearls. Her leaps always land in the center of the pitch. Her intonation is flawless.

Fleming also displays her emotional affinity for the drama, pathos, and lyricism of the music and her ability to identify with her larger-than-life heroines. Chosen from familiar and unfamiliar operas, the music is beguilingly beautiful, ranging from peacefully pastoral to darkly menacing. However, some listeners may feel that Fleming's tendency to overinflect, overphrase, make long pauses, and put swells on long notes, especially in the slow arias, undercuts the music's simplicity and the directness of her expressive communication. The performances are based on the latest scholarly research into the "bel canto" style regarding historically correct ornamentation (only in repeats) and the problems of balancing textual fidelity with imaginative freedom. The Orchestra of St. Luke's gives splendid support, with outstanding solos, especially from the winds. --Edith Eisler

Product Description

Bel Canto is Shrink Wrapped as a Strictly Limited Edition, with a Bonus Disc of Four Unreleased Tracks of Popular Favorites By: Bach, Handel, Mozart and Debussy

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful voice, beautiful lady, May 9, 2004

By A Customer

I've been an opera-goer for 40 years. I heard Sutherland, Sills and even Tebaldi. I never thought that the Golden Age would one day return but it did! Renee Fleming has a big, luscious lyric voice. The suggestion that she should do Turandot is stupid, if she does this opera and she will do Liu. But she isn't made for the war-horses. Who needs the 1556868563 recording of La Traviata or Turandot? She recorded neglected masterpieces like Donizetti's Rosmonda, Massenet's Thais, then there is her glorious Rusalka... And her Strauss&Mozart interpretations will send you to heaven! Hers is the most beautiful voice today. I can only laugh at those green youngsters who call this sweet lady (I had the honour to meet her) mannered or even evil. She is the new Queen of opera!

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brava Renee!, May 11, 2004

By A Customer

This is Bel Canto at its finest! Beautiful, haunting and moving! I love Renee, she's gorgeous, very talented and the best soprano I ever heard!

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a few more comments...., April 28, 2004

By A Customer

i just wanted to point out that i too, a lot of times, think that renee fleming can be affected and insincere with her vocalism. but in this repertoire, i believe that is more appropriate. this is a playful type of singing that allows for more creative licensure and self-expression.
and as far as rubato goes and slowing of pace during the cabalettas, most larger voice sopranos have to slow this type of music because, more often than not, bigger voices just don't move as quickly. i personally don't think her high notes are screeching either. they are full voiced, strong, and sustained.
and i think her trills are glorious: the best since sutherland.