Renée Fleming, 'Distant Light' cover image Photo: Decca Records
Opera soprano Renée Fleming has included three songs by Björk on her most recent release, Distant Light.
It's not the first time she's 'crossed over': in 2005, she released Haunted Heart - a sort of jazz album with pianist Fred Hersch and guitarist Bill Frisell; and in 2010 there was Dark Hope, a collection of indie-rock covers produced by David Kahne.
It's dangerous when opera stars venture into more popular territory and there have been some horrendous failures. William Dart puts a critical ear to all three of these discs by Fleming.
Playlist
'Song title' (Composer) – Performers
Album title
(Label)
'The Crucifixion, from Hermit Songs' (Barber) – Leontyne Price (sop), Samuel Barber (pno)
Modern American Vocal Works, Premiere Recordings 1950-53
(Sony)
'Falling in Love Again' (Hollander) – Leontyne Price (sop), André Previn (conductor)
Right as the Rain
(BMG)
'Blowin’ in the Wind' (Dylan) – Leontyne Price (sop), National PO/Gerhardt
God Bless America
(RCA)
'In My Life' (Lennon/McCartney) – Renée Fleming (sop), Fred Hersch (piano)
Haunted Heart
(Decca)
'My Cherie Amour' (Wonder) – Renée Fleming (sop), Fred Hersch (piano)
Haunted Heart
(Decca)
'Hallelujah' (Cohen) – Renée Fleming
Dark Hope
(Mercury)
'Soul Meets Body' (Gibbard) – Renée Fleming
Dark Hope
(Mercury)
'Soul Meets Body' (Gibbard) – Death Cab for Cutie
Plans
(Atlantic)
'Knoxville, Summer of 1915' (Barber) – Renée Fleming
Distant Light
(Decca)
'The Strand Settings' (Hillborg) – Renée Fleming
Distant Light
(Decca)
'All is Full of Love' (Björk) – Renée Fleming
Distant Light
(Decca)
'Jóga' (Björk) – Renée Fleming
Distant Light
(Decca)
'Jóga' (Björk) – Björk
Homogenic
(Polydor)
