Renee Fleming to sing national anthem at Super Bowl- Page 2

[HorseTears]

Posted: 1/21/14 at 11:20pm

NYadgirl - that's so cool! Who else did you get to perform with? Jerry Hadley's death still makes me sad. Such a wonderful singer.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/22/14 at 4:40pm

I love Dawn Upshaw but she's not certainly nowhere near as exciting a performer as Renee Fleming. Fleming gives the music she sings a certain "glow," similar to the thing that happens to audiences when Dame Kiri Te Kanawa sings.

They might not be the best singers, the music they make might not be perfectly phrased or even perfectly sung, but the music--and the listener--are come to life when they sing. They are enriched, even elevated.

That's why, I believe, Fleming and Te Kanawa both became so popular. There are artists in every genre who do that: writers who make readers feel good about reading, painters and sculptors who makes art appreciators out of museumgoers, actors who make you want to see them again, etc.

They might not be the most perfect artists, they might have obvious flaws, but they somehow connect deeply with surprisingly large audiences. I've seen both Fleming and Te Kanawa perform live at the Met and I've seen Fleming in concert. The audience just glows when she sings.

I predict that Fleming's Super Bowl performance is going to make a lot of people across the country say things like, "She was good...and I don't usually like that type of singing."

And I believe it will have a positive effect on other singers of the National Anthem, by setting an example with simple phrasing and the avoidance of excessive ornamentation.

She was an inspired choice.

[HorseTears]

Posted: 1/22/14 at 5:11pm

I don't disagree, PalJoey. The whole "ambassador" thing is not just PR. She's highly regarded, hugely famous, recognizable to folks who never follow "the arts" and she's likable and approachable. She totally makes sense for this gig. I get that. I just, very specifically, hate the way she sounds when singing English. I guess, when singing in English at least, I prefer it when the singer can sound human and like a native speaker of the language without losing any of the technique. I know that's easier said than done.

I agree wholeheartedly on Dame Te Kanawa. Saw her Vanessa at LA Opera (I believe her last engagement before retirement, perhaps?) and she was spellbinding.

[AllisonBWW]

Posted: 1/22/14 at 5:39pm

Renee is a very dear friend of my voice teacher. I hear she is incredibly excited. I for one, cannot wait to hear this.