Renée Fleming has a new record coming out in a week, Dark Hope (http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Hope-Renee-Fleming/dp/B003956ZCK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1275434019&sr=1-1), which is another non-operatic effort. This time she ventures into Indie-Rock territory, and the results are intriguing. While I imagine her long time fans will be disappointed, anyone with an open mind will probably be pleasantly surprised. As I was by the samples. It should not be dismissed as a classical crossover - no, she has managed to corral her voice into a convincing Indie-Rock incarnation - but one has to wonder who this record will appeal to: The real Rock audience will not be impressed and the classical fans will be depressed.
I can't say that I will leap to buy this record, but I applaud her sense of expressing herself in different styles and she, at least to my satisfaction, brings it off much better than anyone else who has tried to navigate these treacherous waters.
She's never much appealed to me as an opera performer (saw her opposite Heppner in OTELLO at the ROH, was very disappointed - the only time I have seen her live in a full opera role). She hasn't the "blade" in her voice for dramatic roles, and her stage presence doesn't command attention. Maybe she will have more success with this?
The samples for Dark Hope were not enticing at all. The music is generally of the pop variety, and the "Today" remake really sucks.
QuoteI don't know how rare I am for loving both classical music and rock. And regardless of what listeners make of the opera singer's rendition of songs like "Endlessly" by British band Muse, "Dark Hope" sure does fire up the cultural shouting match between classical music and rock. While I have my opinions about how, in musical terms, the genres should stay in their own corners, I wholeheartedly agree with "Dark Hope" producer David Kahne, who told me, "Anybody who thinks they're coming down from opera to an Arcade Fire song is full of it. People who are snobs don't understand there are people speaking out into the darkness, trying to express themselves, with a hell of a lot of talent, in every genre of music."
rtrh (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2010/06/opera-singer-renee-fleming-goes-pop.html)
I tend to agree, although I would not use the word "snob". IMO, there are many lovers of classical music who simply do not wish to delve into alternative styles. This does not make them snobs so much as people who have found the kind of music they like and do not wish to spend time plowing through other genres.
I'm also against this word "snob". There are many classical performers who listen avidly to other forms & genres of music too - and quite a few who perform in other genres as well ;)
"You cannot eat breakfast all day,
Nor is it the sign of a sinner,
When breakfast is taken away
To turn one's attention to dinner."
("The Defendant", TRIAL BY JURY)
Credit to her for picking some recent and currently "relevant" (presumably what crossover always aspires to) bands - nicely programmed disc even though I have zero interest in it.