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.
In My Life
Renée Fleming Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All my life, though some have changed
Some forever, not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places had their moments
With lovers and friends, I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life, I've loved them all
But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life, I'll love you more
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life, I'll love you more
The lyrics to Renée Fleming's song, In My Life, describe the places and people that have had an impact on her life. She acknowledges that some of the places and people in her life have changed or are no longer living, but nonetheless, they still hold a special place in her memories. The first stanza touches on how some of these places had their moments, whether it was spent with lovers or friends. Some of them have gone, but some still remain. The second stanza speaks to a specific person in her life that stands out above all the other friends and lovers, and when she thinks about love as something new, these memories lose their meaning.
However, she also recognizes that she'll never lose affection for the people and things that went before. Even though she loves the person addressed in the second stanza more, she knows she'll often stop and think about the people and places that have impacted her life before. Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of nostalgia and appreciation for the people and places that have made her life what it is, while also showing a deep affection and love for someone special.
Line by Line Meaning
There are places I'll remember
I have memories of certain places that I will always think of and never forget.
All my life, though some have changed
Throughout my entire life, some of these places have altered or evolved.
Some forever, not for better
Unfortunately, some places will never return to the way they once were, and this is not a positive thing.
Some have gone and some remain
Certain places no longer exist, while others are still present and can be visited.
All these places had their moments
Each of these places was significant in its own way and has its own story to tell.
With lovers and friends, I still can recall
I have fond memories of the people that were in my life when I visited these different places.
Some are dead and some are living
Some of the people that I remember from these experiences are no longer alive, while others are still around.
In my life, I've loved them all
I have deep emotional connections to all of these places and the people I associate with them.
But of all these friends and lovers
Out of all the people I've known, both intimately and casually,
There is no one compares with you
There is no one who is quite like you or who I care about as much as I do about you.
And these memories lose their meaning
While these memories will always be important to me, they become less significant when compared to my love for you.
When I think of love as something new
My love for you is so profound that it reshapes how I view every other experience I've had in my life regarding love.
Though I know I'll never lose affection
Even as time goes on and circumstances change, I will always maintain my strong connections to the places and people I've known before you.
For people and things that went before
This includes individuals who are no longer alive and experiences that are long past.
I know I'll often stop and think about them
I will continue to look back on and remember these experiences fondly, even as I move forward in life with you.
In my life, I'll love you more
Despite how much I have loved people and experiences in my past, my love for you will always be the greatest and most important love of my life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul Mccartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind