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.
River
Renée Fleming Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They're cutting down trees
They're putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
Oh, I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
But it don't snow here
I'm gonna make a lot of money
Then I'm gonna quit this crazy scene
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I made my baby cry
He tried hard to help me
You know he put me at ease
And he loved me so naughty
Made me weak in the knees
Oh, I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I'm so hard to handle
I'm selfish and I'm sad
Now I've gone and lost the best baby
That I ever had
Oh, I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I made my baby say goodbye
I made my baby say goodbye
The lyrics to Renée Fleming's song "River" describe a feeling of loneliness and a desire to escape. The singer observes the traditional signs of the holiday season - the cutting down of trees, the installation of decorations - but is unable to feel any sense of joy or connection to the festivities. Instead, she wishes for a river that she could skate away on, a literal and symbolic escape from her current situation. She longs for a place where she could feel free and unburdened, away from the people and circumstances that are causing her pain.
The second verse reveals that the singer is seeking financial success, suggesting that her current problems may stem from a lack of stability or security. The repetition of the line "I wish I had a river" emphasizes the depth of her longing for a way out of her situation. She also expresses regret over hurting her partner, who tried to support and comfort her but ultimately could not overcome her issues. The final repetition of the line "I made my baby say goodbye" emphasizes the singer's own culpability in the end of the relationship.
Overall, "River" is a poignant exploration of emotional pain and the desire for escape, set against the backdrop of the holiday season.
Line by Line Meaning
It's coming on Christmas
The holiday season is approaching
They're cutting down trees
People are cutting down trees to decorate their homes
They're putting up reindeer
People are putting up decorations in the shape of reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
Singing cheerful songs about the holiday season and wishing for peace
Oh, I wish I had a river
The artist wishes for a way to escape from their current situation
I could skate away on
The singer longs for an icy river to skate away on, to leave it all behind
But it don't snow here
The weather is not cold and snowy, making it difficult to escape in the way the singer desires
It stays pretty green
The surroundings don't change with the seasons
I'm gonna make a lot of money
The artist has plans to become financially successful
Then I'm gonna quit this crazy scene
Once the artist has achieved their financial goals, they plan to leave their current lifestyle
I wish I had a river so long
The singer desires a never-ending river to escape their troubles forever
I would teach my feet to fly
The artist feels trapped and wants to escape in any way possible
I made my baby cry
The singer has hurt their loved one and feels guilty about it
He tried hard to help me
The singer's loved one has made an effort to assist and care for them
You know he put me at ease
The loved one has helped the singer feel calm and comfortable
And he loved me so naughty
Their lover has a mischievous, playful side
Made me weak in the knees
Their lover has the ability to make them feel weak with lust and desire
I'm so hard to handle
The singer acknowledges that they are not easy to deal with
I'm selfish and I'm sad
The singer admits to being self-centered and unhappy
Now I've gone and lost the best baby
The artist's actions have caused them to lose their loved one, who they consider to be the best
That I ever had
The artist regrets losing their loved one
I made my baby say goodbye
The artist's actions caused their loved one to leave them
Contributed by Noah E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
EltaLBunner
Ms. Fleming fuses this genere with classical style of tone production in River Songs. She is exquisite
ternitamas
she has such a warm and round sound in the low register, velvety and beautiful
EltaLBunner
I like this as well as her opera work. Sensual and smart .
wishingonthemoon1
LOVE!!!
catface1965
Her versatility is incredible. If I did not know this was Renee I would think"who is this black chick singing a Joni song?".
Edward Tracey
I expected it to be good .... as soon as I saw "Fred Hersch" and "Bill Frisell", that was a guarantee.
terry gebert
delish! .
Martin Wora
@brunofelipe1889 I agree, Bruno -- I don't always like her crossover, and sometimes the jazz sneaks into her opera, but she remains an amazing artist, and always expressive. this album is great....
Flannery Monaghan-Morris
Yep. Though it should be noted, she did sing in jazz bands in college, and it should be noted that her speaking voice is quite deep. Though many sopranos have high speaking voices, she is an exception.
Binns Melander
Renee Fleming I have arrangements of three Michele Legrand tunes for voice and strings .I thought you might like to hear them. You Tube Binns Melander Music .