Notes and Editorial Reviews
This disc was nominated for the 1998 Grammy Award for "Best Classical Vocal Performance."
It is hard to think of Renee Fleming as being in the "greatest hits" stage of her career, as at this release she is a young artist with a long career ahead. However, she has accomplished much and is widely recognized as the premier interpreter of the works of Strauss, Mozart, and Verdi, to name a few. The aptly titled SIGNATURES showcases Fleming's affinity for this music. Recorded with conductor Georg Solti, SIGNATURES features operatic excerpts chosen by Fleming. Among those included are "Porgi, Amor" and "Dove Sono" from 'Le Nozze di Figaro' and "The Willow Song" and "Ave Maria" from 'Otello.' Fleming's gift is in transporting the listener
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to the world of the story line, while never compromising the integrity of the music. In the 'Otello' excerpts, where "The Willow Song" segues into "Ave Maria," we hear the anguish and foreboding in every note Fleming's Desdemona sings, while she flawlessly adheres to Verdi's score. Also on the disc is a rarely heard selection from Strauss' 'Daphne.' Fleming's "Transformation Scene" illustrates her bond with the music of Strauss, and one can only hope she will record the entire opera. Read less
Works on This Recording
1.
Le nozze di Figaro, K 492: Porgi, amor, qualche ristoro by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer:
Renée Fleming (Soprano)
Conductor:
Sir Georg Solti
Orchestra/Ensemble:
London Symphony Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1786; Vienna, Austria
Date of Recording: 12/1996
Venue: Henry Wood Hall, London, England
Length: 3 Minutes 51 Secs.
Language: Italian
2.
Le nozze di Figaro, K 492: E Susanna non vien...Dove sono by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer:
Renée Fleming (Soprano)
Conductor:
Sir Georg Solti
Orchestra/Ensemble:
London Symphony Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1786; Vienna, Austria
Date of Recording: 12/1996
Venue: Henry Wood Hall, London, England
Length: 6 Minutes 16 Secs.
Language: Italian
3.
Eugene Onegin, Op. 24: Tatiana's letter scene by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Performer:
Larissa Diadkova (Mezzo Soprano),
Renée Fleming (Soprano)
Conductor:
Sir Georg Solti
Orchestra/Ensemble:
London Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1877-1878; Russia
Date of Recording: 12/1996
Venue: Henry Wood Hall, London, England
Length: 21 Minutes 16 Secs.
Language: Russian
4.
Rusalka, Op. 114/B 203: O moon high up "Song to the moon" by Antonín Dvorák
Performer:
Renée Fleming (Soprano)
Conductor:
Sir Georg Solti
Orchestra/Ensemble:
London Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1900; Bohemia
Date of Recording: 12/1996
Venue: Henry Wood Hall, London, England
Length: 6 Minutes 40 Secs.
Language: Czech
5.
Otello: Piangea cantando...Ave Maria by Giuseppe Verdi
Performer:
Renée Fleming (Soprano),
Larissa Diadkova (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Sir Georg Solti
Orchestra/Ensemble:
London Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1887; Italy
Date of Recording: 12/1996
Venue: Henry Wood Hall, London, England
Length: 16 Minutes 5 Secs.
Language: Italian
Notes: This selection begins with "Era più calmo?".
6.
Peter Grimes, Op. 33: Embroidery in childhood by Benjamin Britten
Performer:
Renée Fleming (Soprano),
Jonathan Summers (Baritone)
Conductor:
Sir Georg Solti
Orchestra/Ensemble:
London Symphony Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: England
Date of Recording: 12/1996
Venue: Henry Wood Hall, London, England
Length: 5 Minutes 55 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: This selection begins "Peter seems to have disappeared...".
7.
Daphne, Op. 82: Ich komme, grünende Brüder [Final scene] by Richard Strauss
Performer:
Renée Fleming (Soprano)
Conductor:
Sir Georg Solti
Orchestra/Ensemble:
London Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1936-1937; Germany
Date of Recording: 12/1996
Venue: Henry Wood Hall, London, England
Length: 11 Minutes 26 Secs.
Language: German
Sound Samples
Le nozze di Figaro, K.492 / Act 2: "Porgi amor"
Le nozze di Figaro, K.492 / Act 3: "E Susanna non vien!" - "Dove sono i bei momenti"
Eugene Onegin, Op.24 / Act 1: Letter scene. "Puskai pogilabnu ya, no pryezhde"
Rusalka, Op.114 / Act 1: O Silver Moon
Otello / Act 4: "Era più calmo?..."Piangea cantando".."Ave Maria"
Peter Grimes, Op.33 / Act 3: "Embroidery in childhood"
Daphne, Op.82: Ich komme, ich komme (transformation scene)
Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review: 
( 1 Customer Review )
R.Fleming/'90's May 11, 2012
By E. Robinson (Brooklyn, NY) See All My Reviews
"The timbre of her voice is full, neither slipping nor forced in the fullness of her range.A beautiful time for her and this recording."
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