Renée Fleming. Photo credit: Andrew Eccles
From the Super Bowl to Sesame Street to David Letterman, Grammy Award-winning Renée Fleming has performed for a wide variety of audiences in countless arenas and venues.
Now, after much effort and coordination, BYU is thrilled to host the internationally renown singer who will perform on Feb. 25 at 7:30pm in the de Jong Concert Hall.
Jeff Martin, adjunct instructor and presenter of the BYU BRAVO! Series, said that trying to coordinate Fleming's schedule with BYU's performance calendar proved to be a difficult task.
'It's probably taken us about three years to work this out,' Martin said. 'We confirmed this concert in January of 2015.'
Darrell Babidge, BYU associate vocal performance professor, has worked closely with Jeff Martin in arranging this concert. He said that discussion about the possibility of Renée Fleming coming to Brigham Young University began years ago among music faculty.
'Her name has always been discussed in meetings, for at least the eight years since I've been here,' Babidge said. 'It's been a big talking point for many years—'can we get Renée Fleming?''
Fleming is known as one of the world's most talented and decorated opera stars, with four grammy awards and the National Medal of Arts, America's highest recognition an individual artist can receive. And now, BYU will have the privilege of hearing Fleming live on campus.
'I think this will be a wonderful opportunity to witness her amazing gift as singer and communicator,' Babidge said.
Martin said that Fleming asked for feedback on program options, but he decided to leave it to the artist to select the songs for this concert.
'I find that artists know their repertoire and voice best,' Martin said. 'I want them to give the best performance they can with the music they are most comfortable with. I think people will really enjoy this program.'
Senior-level vocal performance students will have the opportunity to participate in a master class with Fleming the morning after her concert. All students and faculty in the division will be able to sit in and observe the coaching sessions.
Tickets for this performance can be purchased online, at the BYU Ticket Office in the Harris Fine Arts Center or the Marriott Center, or by phone at 801-422-2981.