Renee Fleming
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.
