Renée Fleming (b. February 14, 1959), is an American soprano who sings principally opera and lieder. Fleming possesses a flexible, full lyric soprano voice that's supported by a formidable and solid technique complete with ease and ringing freedom at the extreme top of its range. That top range allows Fleming to ascend to the E-flat above the soprano high C and beyond, however she rarely sings these notes in performances. Although lyrical in nature, Fleming's voice has a substantial amount of solidity and power which allows her to sing a variety of roles ranging from that of the bel canto, lyric and lighter spinto repertoires. Fleming is one of the world's leading classical sopranos and she performs in opera houses and concert halls worldwide.
Fleming was born in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Rochester, New York. Both her parents are voice teachers. She also has a sister who studies music.
Fleming's first major break came in 1988 when she sang the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro at the Houston Grand Opera. In 1989, she made debuts with the New York City Opera and the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. In 1991, she made her Metropolitan Opera debut. In 1997, Fleming sang her first Manon at the Opéra Bastille to glowing reviews.
As a youngster, Fleming enjoyed popular music and admired the talent of Joni Mitchell among others. In addition to the standard operatic repertoire, she performs new music, Broadway show tunes, and other popular genres.
Fleming has originated the roles of Rosina, Mme de Tourvel, and Blanche DuBois in, respectively, the world premières of John Corigliano's The Ghosts of Versailles with the Metropolitan Opera, Conrad Susa's The Dangerous Liaisons with the San Francisco Opera, and André Previn's A Streetcar Named Desire, also in San Francisco. (Wikipedia.org).