Renée Fleming and Pink Floyd

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"The American soprano Renée Fleming receives the 2008 Polar Music Prize in recognition of her sublime unparalleled voice and unique stylistic versatility. Connoisseurs and the general public alike have been dazzled by the beauty of her soft and natural voice, which is equally supple in every register and exudes sensitivity in every tone. With apparent ease and brilliant command, she takes on the entire operatic repertoire, from Handel to principal parts in newly penned operas. Concert audiences over the world have all been captivated by Ms. Fleming’s magnetic stage presence. She holds a truly exceptional position among the world’s singers."
 

"The 2008 Polar Music Prize is awarded to the British group Pink Floyd for their monumental contribution over the decades to the fusion of art and music in the development of popular culture. Through extensive sonic experimentation, they captured the mood and spirit of a whole generation in their reflections and attitudes. Pink Floyd managed to evolve and create exciting music and albums over the years, When rock'n'roll developed, Pink Floyd was foremost in shaping the sounds that would influence artists for ever."
 

RENÉE FLEMING BIOGRAPHY
Soprano

Renée Fleming’s luminous sound, brilliant stage presence and superb artistry are just a few of the qualities that make her one of the worlds most beloved and recognizable figures. Her freshness and purity of tone, together with an exceptional musical intelligence and grace, continue to enchant audiences worldwide. As a passionate champion of creativity in the arts, she continues to be a proponent of new music and an advocate of overlooked masterpieces.

Ms. Fleming’s 2007-08 season brings her to the opera houses of New York, Chicago and Vienna. She appeared in two of her signature roles with the Metropolitan Opera: Violetta in La Traviata, in November 2007, and Desdemona in Otello, in February 2008. She repeated La Traviata for the Lyric Opera of Chicago in January 2008, and in June, she appears at the Vienna State Opera in a new production of Strauss’ Capriccio.

A much-loved and warmly welcomed artist throughout the world, Ms. Fleming performed at 2007-08 season gala opening nights for the National Symphony Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony and the Los Angeles Philharmonic; and in November 2007, the Dallas Opera presented her in solo concert to celebrate their 50th Anniversary. Other highlights have included the world premiere of the song cycle Le Temps L’Horloge, written for her by Henri Dutilleux, which she debuted in September with Seiji Ozawa at the Saito Kinen Festival in Japan, and repeated in November, with James Levine and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, also bringing it to New York’s Carnegie Hall in December. In Spring 2008, Ms. Fleming performs and records Strauss’ Four Last Songs with the Munich Philharmonic under Christian Thielemann.

In November 2007, Decca released the Los Angeles Opera’s production of LaTraviata on DVD, featuring Renée Fleming, Rolando Villazon and Renato Bruson. A two-time Grammy winner, Ms. Fleming’s most recent CD, entitled Homage – The Age of The Diva, was released in Fall 2006 and is comprised of rarely-heard works associated with legendary singers of the past. In recent years, this nine-time Grammy nominated artist has recorded everything from Strauss’ complete Daphne to the jazz recording Haunted Heart, to the movie soundtrack of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, and has been honored with a 2006 Echo Award for her recording of Strauss’ Daphne, as well as the Classical Brits Awards in 2004 for Outstanding Contribution to Music and in 2003, for Female Artist of the Year. In May 2007, TDK’s DVD production of Capriccio, with Ms. Fleming singing the title role, was awarded the Prix Maria Callas Orphée d’Or by the Académie du Disque Lyric, which awarded her the inaugural Prix Solti Orphée d’Or in 1996.

Renée Fleming’s artistry has been an inspiration to many other prominent artists, such as Chuck Close and Robert Wilson, whose portraits of her were included in the Metropolitan Opera’s 2007 fund-raising auction. A portrait of Ms. Fleming was also created by Francesco Clemente, who displayed the work at Salzburg’s Easter Festival in Spring 2007. Among her numerous awards are the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur by the French government (2005), which was preceded by the Commandeur de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (2002); Honorary Membership in the Royal Academy of Music (2003); and a 2003 honorary doctorate from The Juilliard School, where she was also commencement speaker.

An advocate for literacy, Renée Fleming has been featured in promotional campaigns for the Association of American Publishers (Get Caught Reading), and the Magazine Publishers of America’s READ poster campaign for the American Library Association. She was honored by The New York Public Library as a “Library Lion.” Her book, “The Inner Voice,” was published by Viking Penguin in 2004, and released in paperback by Penguin the following year. An intimate account of her career and creative process, the book is also published in France by Fayard Editions, in the United Kingdom by Virgin Books, by Henschel Verlag in Germany, and Shunjusha in Japan.

In addition to her work on stage and in recordings, Renée Fleming has represented Rolex timepieces in print advertising since 2001. Master Chef Daniel Boulud has created the dessert “La Diva Renée” (1999) in her honor, and she has inspired the “Renée Fleming Iris” (2004), which has been replicated in porcelain by Boehm. Having been added to Mr. Blackwell’s best-dressed list in 2001, her gowns have been designed by Gianfranco Ferré, Issey Miyake, Bill Blass, Vivienne Westwood, Angel Sanchez, Oscar de la Renta and John Galliano for Dior.

Renée Fleming, who was born in Pennsylvania and grew up in Rochester, New York, studied at The Juilliard School, holds degrees from the State University of New York at Potsdam and the Eastman School of Music, and was a Fulbright Scholar for study in Germany. Early awards include the Metropolitan Opera National Auditions, the Richard Tucker Award, and the George London Prize. She is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of the Carnegie Hall Corporation and of the Advisory Board of the White Nights Foundation of America.


Management: IMG Artists
Public Relations: M.L. FALCONE, Public Relations
 

Additional information about Ms. Fleming
can be found at her record label’s website:
www.deccaclassics.com/reneefleming

Renée Flemings Web Site:
www.reneefleming.com