WETA Classical celebrates Renée Fleming receiving the Kennedy Center Honors and the airing of the star-studded event on CBS and Paramount+. On December 27, we enjoy performances by Renée Fleming on our playlist throughout the day. Please join us in celebrating her legacy and impact in the world of performing arts.
A friend asked me last month why the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts was illuminated in rainbow lights. The Center was lit up for the 46th annual Kennedy Center Honors celebrating the lifetime artistic achievement of (alphabetically) Billy Crystal, Renée Fleming, Barry Gibb, Queen Latifah, and Dionne Warwick. According to Ivan Chermayeff, the graphic designer who created the iconic ribbons for the ceremony, the rainbow symbolizes “a spectrum of many skills within the performing arts.” The live, star-studded show, hosted by 2017 honoree Gloria Estefan, took place at the Kennedy Center on December 3rd, and will be broadcast Wednesday December 27 on CBS (9:00-11:00 PM) and streaming on Paramount +.
Each of the honorees has contributed enormously to the arts in their own sphere. In the classical world, Renée Fleming, the “people’s diva” as Barack Obama dubbed her, stands out for her artistry, versatility, and contributions to the music world. The Washington Post calls her “one of the most influential musicians of her time as well as a powerful advocate for the healing powers of music.” And I'm finding it quite impossible to list all her accomplishments in just a few short paragraphs.
Renée Fleming’s website (ReneeFleming.com) is divided into a triad: Artistry, Advocacy, and Leadership. She excels in all three.
Artistry: Fleming was a jazz singer in college and moved on to Eastman and Juilliard, then earned a Fulbright scholarship to study in Germany with Arleen Augér and Elisabeth Schwarzkopf. Her big break came in 1988 when she won the Met Opera auditions. Her latest Met appearance is scheduled for May, when she'll be starring in The Hours, a new opera by Kevin Putz. She recently released a two-CD set, Renée Fleming: Greatest Moments at the Met. The recording Voice of Nature: The Anthropocene, won the 2023 Grammy Award® for Best Classical Solo Vocal Album. In fact, she has four other Grammys and 18 nominations. She maintains a busy worldwide performance schedule. Her musical interests are wide, from opera, to jazz, to art song, even indie rock. She earned a Tony Award® nomination for her performance in Carousel on Broadway. She has sung on Sesame Street, in Buckingham Palace for Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee, and on the steps of the Lincoln Center for President Obama’s inauguration as well as at half-time at the 2014 Superbowl. Her voice is featured in two movie soundtracks (Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and The Shape of Water). Honestly, she's won more awards than I can write about here, including the U.S. National Medal of Arts.
Advocacy: She has edited a new book scheduled for an April release: Music and Mind: Harnessing the Arts for Health and Wellness, reflecting her fascinating work with the Kennedy Center and the National Institutes of Health. You can check out her free Music and Mind 19-episode series on the web at Kennedy-Center.org.
Leadership: This past May, Fleming was appointed Goodwill Ambassador for Arts and Health by the World Health Organization. She co-leads the Aspen Opera Theater and VocalArts. She leads the SongStudio at Carnegie Hall supporting young singers. Closer to home, she serves as Kennedy Center Artistic adviser-at large and launched the “Voices” recital series.
Artistry, Advocacy, Leadership: A perfect artistic and humanistic triad. Renée Fleming is a uniquely beautiful voice and woman, illuminating the valuable impact of the arts in our lives. She leaves one both humbled and inspired.
For more information, visit Reneefleming.com and Kennedy-Center.org
WETA Passport
Stream tens of thousands of hours of your PBS and local favorites with WETA Passport whenever and wherever you want. Catch up on a single episode or binge-watch full seasons before they air on TV.