The American soprano Renée Fleming is one of the most appreciated female singers in the contemporary opera world. In the Netherlands, this prima donna can look forward to a large fan base. What many admirers don't know is that it would have been only a hair if we lost Fleming to the jazz world. After all, during her studies she sang in a jazz trio. The saxophonist Illinois Jacquet was then deeply
… impressed by her voice and asked her to tour with his big band. But Fleming chose to graduate from the conservatory. A great career in classical music with dozens of acclaimed CDs awaited her. It is only with the album Haunted Heart that Fleming introduces us to her love for the light jazzy repertoire and… with her different voice. No classic voice here (thankfully), the singer dives into her chest register, resulting in a dark, slightly hoarse and sensual timbre. However, she never loses sight of technology: every phrase is governed by perfect breath support. This can make it all sound a bit smooth, but that remains a matter of taste. Fleming has no doubt gained a large number of admirers. (CP)more
