20qs

Renee Fleming
03.08.11
1. If you had to begin a different career, what would you do?
I would probably be in business. I’m intrigued by the creative aspect of business and being an entrepreneur a great deal. Or, medical research, I find it utterly fascinating. When I was a child, I wanted to be the first lady President and we know that still hasn’t happened.
2. What’s your most prized possession?
An oriental carpet that my voice teacher willed to me. It was her most prized possession and I learned to sing on it.
3. Favorite drink?
Coffee, absolutely. Its odd but I like a slightly orange flavored coffee, I even travel with it. I find it very refreshing, it’s a light roast, I really don’t like dark roasts.
4. Fantasy Purchase?
This is a hard one. I’m not materialist. Gosh, I guess a trip around the world.
5. What’s next on your “to do” list?
Cooking dinner for my 15-year-old daughter. Cooking is a relatively new thing for me, I’m learning and enjoying it.
6. Biggest regret?
I’m so positive, so fortunate, that I don’t have any regrets. If I have any they’re little regrets and they’re not meaningful.
7. What was the best day of your life?
Giving birth to my two daughters, 18 and 15.
8. Secret most people don’t know about you?
I like to garden. I have a wrap-around terrace in New York and I did all of the gardening for it. It’s not a typical diva activity.
9. Cause that you’re most interested/involved in?
I really love the Lyric Opera of Chicago and the arts/education outreach. Furthering the reach of the arts and expanding it for all is very important to me. Plus, Chicago is just a great city for music.
10. What do you do to relax?
Lately, my 15-year-old daughter and I have become Gleeks and “American Idol” fans. We enjoy this together, but for myself I’m a huge theater and museum buff.
11. Where haven’t you been that you’re dying to go?
Ever year I make sure to organize engagements to places that I have never been. This year I’ll be traveling to Istanbul and Jureasulem for the first time. I have a lot of places I still want to go, a whole long list, but I’ve been very fortunate, I have traveled around the world.
12. What’s your biggest fear?
Anything to do with an untimely death for people that I love. That’s really the worst thing.
13. What’s next for you?
I’ll be singing “Capriccio”, a short and very sophisticated piece at The Met: Live in HD on April 23. Anyone can watch, it will be beamed in cinemas around the world that day.
14. Biggest accomplishment?
Balancing my children and an extraordinarily demanding career. Anyone who works knows that it’s difficult, and to have happy, well adjusted children is really the greatest accomplishment.
15. Favorite vacation spot?
Home. To me to be home is such a gift, it’s bliss for me. I go for long periods of traveling.
Opera superstar Renée Fleming is giving Orange County an exclusive experience of covering indie rock songs on Tuesday, April 5 at 8 p.m. at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. She will be performing classical opera selections in the first half of her performance, and the second half will solely be rock. Some covers will include Death Cab for Cutie, Muse, Arcade Fire, and Mars Volta.
So that everyone can see this exclusive performance, many tickets will be priced at $25. Tickets in the orchestra section will start at $85. You can also purchase tickets in prime box circle seats and attend a reception with Fleming. Tickets are available at the Philharmonic Society box office at 949.553.2422, online at PhilharmonicSociety.org, and at the Center box office at 714.556.2787.
The Segerstrom Center for the Arts is located at 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa.
Blog

Watch Out for Cathy Thomas!
03.08.11
I wasn’t one bit surprised when I read that Cathy Thomas was just named one one of OC METRO's 20 Women to Watch.
Here she is with executive pastry chef Michael Owens from the Island Hotel in Newport Beach making moon pies.
Cathy dishes out secrets of creating delectable meals for family or entertaining without spending hours in the kitchen.
She also produces a free weekly newsletter related to all things food! It’s easy to sign up here, and you might win her latest cook book, “Melissa’s Everyday Cooking with Organic Produce."
Learn more about Cathy Thomas here.
Follow Greer on Pinterest
from the blog
- 06.12.25 – Jan’s Health Bar Expands to San Diego, Introduces New Smoothies and Summer Menu Favorites
- 06.11.25 – Taste of Japan Brings Food, Culture and Entertainment to Anaheim GardenWalk
- 06.09.25 – Topside Roof Deck Launches Sunday Brunch Club
- 06.09.25 – Ninth Annual Newport Beach Wooden Boat Festival to Celebrate Stories of the Sea
- 06.09.25 – Anaheim Hills Festival to Host Bubble Poppin’ Fun Event June 14
- 06.08.25 – RJB Restaurant Group Expands Parlor and Olea Footprints
- 06.08.25 – Father’s Day Weekend at The Ranch: Steak, Lobster, Bourbon
- 06.03.25 – VEA Newport Beach Partners with Orlebar Brown for Stylish June Pop-Up
- 06.02.25 – Coming Soon: Miami City Ballet’s Swan Lake June 20–22 at Segerstrom Hall
- 06.02.25 – Open Studios at Cannery Artist Collective This Weekend
- 06.01.25 – Celebrate Juneteenth at Musco Center
- 05.30.25 – Newport Beach TV Fest Awards ‘Landman’ Outstanding Drama
- 05.25.25 – Beckman Arts and Science Family Festival Returns to Segerstrom Center
- 05.25.25 – Woody’s Wharf Marks 60 Years with Music and Giving
- 05.24.25 – Chef-Driven Farmhouse Opens at Descanso Gardens
- 05.24.25 – Georgia’s Introduces New Weekday Lunch Specials
- 05.21.25 – CasaDamí Introduces Weekend Brunch and Golden Hour in Newport Beach
- 05.20.25 – HomeAid OCLA Hosts Annual Diaper Drive May 30 at The District at Tustin Legacy
- 05.20.25 – Sammy Hagar Day Hits Cabo Wabo Beach Club in Huntington Beach
- 05.14.25 – Summer Starts May 17 at Wild Rivers With New Mermaid Cove
More Daily Doses
- 06.10.25 – Step inside California Kinship at Langson IMCA
- 06.09.25 – E-Commerce Favorite Dressin Launches First OC Store
- 06.03.25 – Hilbert Museum and Pageant of the Masters Partner for 2025 Celebration of California Art
- 06.02.25 – Cirque du Soleil’s ECHO in Laguna Hills – Free Kids Tickets This Week
- 05.26.25 – Chef Jason Yamaguchi to Debut Konpa Nikkei in Corona del Mar This Summer
- 05.25.25 – Lido House Launches ‘La Dolce Vita’ – A Taste of Europe in Newport Beach
- 05.21.25 – A Catalina Day Trip: Ocean Views, Island History, and Memorable Stops
- 05.20.25 – Pendry Newport Beach Kicks Off Summer with New Experiences
- 05.15.25 – Cinq à Sept Opens First California Boutique at Fashion Island
- 05.14.25 – Meet Atome Bakery: Sourdough Without the Stress
- 05.14.25 – Newport Beach TV Fest Launches June 5-8, 2025
- 05.11.25 – Cozy Earth Opens Flagship Store in Corona del Mar
- 05.09.25 – Celebrate Mother’s Day at Wild Strawberry Café in Newport Beach
- 05.08.25 – Mom-Worthy Dining in Orange County
- 05.05.25 – Celebrate Mother’s Day in Style Across Orange County
- 04.29.25 – Mother’s Day Dining and Experiences in Orange County
- 04.24.25 – Monaco Italian Kitchen Brings Neapolitan Pizzas and Housemade Pastas to Irvine
- 04.23.25 – South Coast Plaza Celebrates 35 Years of Southern California’s Premier Garden Show
- 04.20.25 – The District at Tustin Legacy Hosts Earth Day Celebration
- 04.17.25 – California Wine Festival Returns to Dana Point