Renée Fleming, one of the best-loved and versatile sopranos of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, has been described as "the people's diva," and perhaps comes closer than any other singer of her time to being an old-fashioned operatic superstar. Her wise repertoire decisions have allowed her to embrace a wide variety of works throughout her career, including Baroque opera, Mozart, the Italian bel canto repertoire, Verdi, Massenet, Puccini, Richard Strauss, a number of contemporary operas, and songs from all eras. Her voice is notable for its fullness, warmth, its creamy tone quality, and her ability to spin out long velvety legato lines. She is known for the intensity and integrity of her dramatic portrayals and her engaging stage presence.
Fleming's parents were high school vocal music teachers. In 1981, she graduated from the State University of New York at Potsdam with a degree in music education and continued her musical studies at the Eastman School of Music, which she credits with giving her a strong academic and theoretical background. From 1983 to 1987, she was enrolled in the American Opera Center at Juilliard, where she met Beverley Johnston, the voice teacher with whom she would continue to study throughout her career. Fleming also recalls with admiration the year she spent studying lieder with Arleen Augér, on a Fulbright Scholarship. In 1988, she won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and the George London Prize (in the same week), and the Eleanor McCollum Competition in Houston.
Fleming sang the Countess in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro at the Houston Grand Opera in 1988, made her New York City Opera debut in 1989 as Mimi in La bohème, and her Covent Garden debut as Glauce in Cherubini's Medea later that year. In 1991, she made her acclaimed Met debut, stepping in for an indisposed Felicity Lott as the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro. The Countess was her debut role in San Francisco (1991), Vienna State Opera (1993), and Glyndebourne (1994). In 1993, she made her debut at La Scala as Donna Elvira, and she sang Eva at the 1996 Bayreuth Festival. Since that time, she has continued performances at the world's leading opera houses and concert halls and has continued to expand her repertoire. Among the roles for which she has won acclaim are Handel's Alcina and Rodelinda; Rossini's Armida, Violetta, Manon, Thaïs, Tatyana, and Rusalka; and numerous roles in Strauss operas, including the Marschallin, Daphne, Arabella, and the Countess in Capriccio. She created the role of Rosina in Corigliano's The Ghosts of Versailles in 1991, Madame Tourvel in Conrad Susa's Dangerous Liaisons in 1994, and Blanche DuBois in André Previn's A Streetcar Named Desire in 1998.
She has garnered praise for her many recordings, both on CD and DVD, and has been nominated for 12 Grammy Awards and has won three, in 1996, 1999, and 2010. In addition to her work in the classical repertoire, Fleming has recorded contemporary pop songs, jazz, and film soundtracks. She has hosted a number of television and radio broadcasts, including The Metropolitan Opera's Live in HD series, and Live from Lincoln Center for PBS. Her honors include Sweden’s Polar Prize (2008), the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur from the French government (2005), Honorary Membership in the Royal Academy of Music (2003), and a 2003 Honorary Doctorate from the Juilliard School.
Haunted Heart
Renée Fleming Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the night, though we're apart,
There's a ghost of you within my haunted heart
Ghost of you, my lost romance,
Lips that laugh, eyes that dance
Haunted heart won't let me be,
Dreams repeat a sweet but lonely song to me
Dreams are dust, it's you who must belong to me
And thrill my haunted heart,
Be still my haunted heart
Dreams are dust, it's you who must belong to me
And thrill my haunted heart,
Be still my haunted heart
The song Haunted Heart by Renee Fleming is about the memory and longing for a lost love. The lyrics describe how even though the couple is apart, the ghost of the lost love still haunts the singer's heart. The chorus repeats the phrase "Dreams are dust, it's you who must belong to me, and thrill my haunted heart, be still my haunted heart." This reflects the singer's desire to be reunited with the lost love and for the love to again bring joy and excitement to their heart. The lyrics also mention the lost love's laughter and dancing eyes, which show how the singer still remembers and cherishes the happy moments they shared together. Overall, the song is a poignant reflection on love lost and the lingering pain of heartbreak.
Interesting facts about Haunted Heart:
- Haunted Heart was written by Howard Dietz and Arthur Schwartz in 1948 for the MGM musical film "The Pirate," starring Gene Kelly and Judy Garland.
- The song has been covered by several artists, including Jo Stafford, Ella Fitzgerald, and Sam Cooke.
- Haunted Heart was also used in the 1950 film "Summer Stock," also starring Judy Garland.
- Renee Fleming's cover of Haunted Heart was released in 2005 on her album "Haunted Heart."
- The album was produced by Fred Hersch, who is a well-known jazz pianist and composer.
- In a review of Fleming's album, The New York Times called her performance of Haunted Heart "one of the most arresting tracks of her career."
- Fleming, a renowned opera singer, has won four Grammy Awards and has performed at major opera houses around the world.
- Haunted Heart has been included in several jazz vocal repertoire collections, including "The Jazz Singer's Handbook" and "The Singer's Book of Jazz Standards."
- The song has also been featured in several TV shows, including "American Horror Story" and "The Walking Dead."
- The chords for Haunted Heart are G6, F#m7b5, B7, Em, A7, D7, Gmaj7.
Line by Line Meaning
In the night, though we're apart,
During the night, despite being separated,
There's a ghost of you within my haunted heart
Memories of you continue to linger within my troubled heart
Ghost of you, my lost romance,
The apparition of our former relationship, which is now lost,
Lips that laugh, eyes that dance
The sight of your laughing lips and dancing eyes
Haunted heart won't let me be,
My distressing emotions continue to haunt me,
Dreams repeat a sweet but lonely song to me
My dreams persist in reminding me of the loneliness I feel without you
Dreams are dust, it's you who must belong to me
Although dreams are fleeting, you must be with me to make me whole
And thrill my haunted heart,
You must excite my troubled heart,
Be still my haunted heart
But also bring it peace and calmness
Dreams are dust, it's you who must belong to me
Again, dreams are temporary illusions, only you can fulfill my heart's desires
And thrill my haunted heart,
By loving and being with me,
Be still my haunted heart
And thereby bringing an end to its torment
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: FREDDY CURCI, STEVE DEMARCHI, STEVE DIAMOND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind