Last night I attended a remarkable recital by Miss Renee Fleming at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at the Los Angeles Music Center, Dear Readers.
She opened with a lovely set of five arias by Mr. George Frideric Handel, and followed that with a trying set of seven early songs by Mr. Alban Berg.
The set following the interval was the most interesting one of the evening for me. It began with "I Can Smell the Sea Air" from Mr. Andre Previn's opera A Streetcar Named Desire. Next up was an incredible song--a monodrama, really--composed by Mr. John Kander. It was entitled "A Letter from Sullivan Ballou" and the words are comprised of a letter from a soldier (the text indicates that he is fighting in the Civil War) to his beloved wife. "Lest I should not be able to write again, I feel impelled to write a few lines that may fall under your eye when I shall be no more..." is how the song begins and Miss Fleming drew many a tear from the audience with her rendition. The set ended with "Ain't It a Pretty Night" from Mr. Carlisle Floyd's woefully underperformed Susannah.
The fourth and final set of the evening consisted of six songs by Mr. Robert Schumann.
Miss Fleming was in a generous mood last night, and delivered five encores: a thoroughly exquisite "O Mio Babbino Caro" from Mr. Giacomo Puccini's Gianni Schicchi, Mr. Richard Strauss' "Cecilie," another aria from Susannah (could this be a new role Miss Fleming is preparing?), "Summertime" from Porgy and Bess and finally another song by Mr. Strauss, "Morgen."
Miss Fleming's creamy vocal quality, delicate pianissimi, amazing breath control and personal charm were all in conspicuous evidence last night. The audience was enthralled!
