Linda,
I have watched Renee Fleming's Proms concert on TV (our cable network in the Netherlands picks up the BBC signal from the coast) and I wholeheartedly agree with what you wrote. I found it sad to see such a tremendously talented singer treat the Exsultate Jubilate which such degree of unnecessary bravura. I also agree that she sounded wonderful in the Strauss lieder, although I would have expected her to have somewhat better German diction (I couldn't understand the words at all), especially after the interview they showed with the conductor (Christoph Eschenbach), who hailed her as THE Strauss singer of the 20th and 21st century. She could easily be heard over the orchestra, but that's obviously due to the microphones/mix.
It's one of the nice things of this group: to watch a concert on TV and then read a review by someone who was actually there. Thanks !
Wim Ritzerfeld baritone Eindhoven, The Netherlands
|