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To: <vocalist>
Subject: Interesting Renee Fleming quote
Date sent: Mon, 31 Jan 2000 18:24:12 -0600
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

snip >
Maybe when she's talking about a "warm, round,
rich sound", she's really thinking of singers who go way too far in the
other extreme, and produce *too* dark of a tone, who are too covered, and
as
a result wind up straining like the dickens in higher registers. <

I am just wondering-does anyone out there think that she sometimes forces
her top end of her range? There are a few songs on one CD I have by her on
which her voice sounds very forced (even some in her lower range), and it
sounds like she is "straining like the dickens" in the upper range to me.
(FYI-It's called "The Beautiful Voice" and I think it was released in
1998.) To my admittedly minimally trained ears, she sound great in some
parts then other parts sound pushed and strained. At points it's just
painful for me to listen too. Admittedly, she says that the album consists
of songs she wanted to do instead of songs which are best suited her voice.
I don't have a lot of Renee Fleming stuff, so I am curious on whether
anyone else who has heard her on a lot of stuff has similar observations.

A quick aside-I had my deviated septum/turbinate surgery a little over two
2 wks ago and am recovering well. They ended up doing it under local
anesthesia so I didn't have to worry about vocal cord damage from
intubation or a mask. But the first week of recovery hurt more than I
could ever have imagined! And unlike many of you who responded to my
questions who said you were able to sing after several days or just one
week, I was still too swollen to sing after a week. Although the doctor
cleared me to sing after he removed the splints, I had no resonance and
couldn't coordinate muscles well. And I wasn't on drugs. I think my
nerves weren't cooperating. My sensations were pretty screwed up. It
wasn' t very productive to sing. I just starting being able to find my
voice again after two-plus weeks. Thanks to everyone who shared their
experiences.

Sandra