akron concert series
Soprano Renee Fleming in "Voice of Nature: The Anthropocene"
Tuesday April 21 at 7:30pm
EJ Thomas Hall
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EJ Thomas Hall
World’s most
famous soprano
Be immersed in the majesty of nature when Renée Fleming — the world’s most-famous soprano — comes to EJ Thomas Hall for Tuesday Musical’s Akron Concert Series on April 21.
In Voice of Nature: The Anthropocene, Fleming will perform in-in person — along with pianist Howard Watkins — set against the stunning visuals of original films created for her by National Geographic.
Fleming explains that the project was born out of the COVID-19 pandemic, when she had just moved to Virginia and she realized that being outside was the best thing for her well-being. She and conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin then created their Grammy-winning 2023 recording Voice of Nature: The Anthropocene.
Also known as a leading advocate for the study of the powerful connections between the arts and health, Fleming will participate in a “Music and the Mind” program the day before the concert.
A grand season finale!
About
Renée Fleming is one of the most highly acclaimed singers of our time, performing on the stages of the world’s great opera houses and concert halls. A 2023 Kennedy Center Honoree, winner of five Grammy® awards and the U.S. National Medal of Arts, she has sung for momentous occasions from the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony to the Diamond Jubilee for Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.
A groundbreaking distinction came in 2008 when she became the first woman in the 125-year history of the Metropolitan Opera to solo headline an opening night gala, and in 2014 she became the first classical artist ever to sing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl. In 2023, the World Health Organization appointed her as a Goodwill Ambassador for Arts and Health.
A leading advocate for the study of the powerful connections between the arts and health, Fleming will also participate in a “Music and the Mind” program the day before the concert
Read MoreAbout the
Performance
Superstar Renée Fleming brings her legendary voice to Akron for in-person program of Romantic and contemporary songs — plus an exploration of our evolving connection to nature, accompanied by a backdrop of a beautiful film from National Geographic.
With an eclectic mix of nature-inspired songs — such as arias by Handel and Puccini, music from Lord of the Rings and Carousel; contemporary hits by Björk, Kevin Puts, and Nico Muhly; and selections by famed film composer Ennio Morricone — her breathtaking program will celebrate the beauty of nature while also raising awareness about the urgent need to protect it.
Accompanying Ms. Fleming will be pianist Howard Watkins, a native of Dayton, Ohio, and a frequent associate of some of the world’s leading musicians on the concert stage and as an assistant conductor at the Metropolitan Opera.
His appearances throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia, Russia, and Israel have included collaborations with Renée Fleming, Joyce DiDonato, Diana Damrau, Thomas Hampson, Kathleen Battle, Grace Bumbry, Mariusz Kwiecien, Anna Netrebko, and Matthew Polenzani at such venues as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Spivey Hall, Kennedy Center, U.S. Supreme Court, Alice Tully Hall, the three stages of Carnegie Hall, the Elbphilharmonie, and the Bolshoi Theater.
He is the 2019 recipient of the Lift Every Voice Legacy Award from the National Opera Association. Watkins was recognized as one the 2022 top professionals of the year by Musical America in part for his work to celebrate the music of Black composers and singers.
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