10 Important Questions About Renee Fleming’s New Indie Album

Posted on Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 at 12:36 am

indie-renee2
Since classical musicians value authenticity in performance, will Renée get all ‘tatted up’?
What is this all about?
What do the indie songwriters think about this?
Does it make them feel more ‘legit’?
Are indies trying to reach a ‘broader audience’?
What’s in this for Renée?
Is she ‘saving classical music’?
Will her tour include ‘shows’ in ‘alternative venues’?
Should classical music stop trying so hard?
Does this signal the end of the alt-classical epoch?

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3 Responses

  1. JC

    What is this all about?

    The producers have been chasing her for ten years. She finally relented, wsa looking for an artistic challenge, the money people backed her because they smell success.

    What’s in this for Renée?

    Hopefully, tons of dough. Opera singers make a pittance compared to the work they have to put in. And it might be a new venue for her – her voice is great doing these songs. Her hold up – she doesn’t dance.

    Will her tour include ’shows’ in ‘alternative venues’?

    Perhaps. Peter Gelb she can do it at the Met if she wants. If she goes onstage with Annie Lenox I will die on the spot.

    Is she ’saving classical music’?

    Didn’t know that was her job. Classical music might be in for a long hibernation so I hope she has other avenues.

    Are indies (opera) trying to reach a ‘broader audience’?

    Of course – that’s their business. But I think this album will sell mostly to the indie crowd and maybe a number of younger opera fans (by that I mean people in their 60′s like me). GSTQ

  2. [...] music of Arcade Fire, Death Cab For Cutie, and The Mars Volta, among others. This has raised many important questions about the ‘burgeoning’ indie classical movement, including is it all over now? No word [...]

  3. Since classical musicians value authenticity in performance, will Renée get all ‘tatted up’?

    – Let’s hope so.

    What is this all about?

    – Nobody tells Renée what to do. This is a mid-life crisis.

    What do the indie songwriters think about this?

    – I suspect they’ll be focussed on the publishing revenue. It might pay for a guitar string.

    Does it make them feel more ‘legit’?

    – You know your work has entered the universal popular consciousness when somebody does something lame with it.

    Are indies trying to reach a ‘broader audience’?

    – Always, but this isn’t going to help.

    What’s in this for Renée?

    – A lot of jokes, mostly. She’s probably doing it for honest creative reasons, but we’ll never let her get away with that. It’s just too easy to deride. Reactions will be split into two camps: outrage at “marketing gone mad” and gushing at “classical musician isn’t freak after all”. Either way, she’ll look like a freak.

    Is she ’saving classical music’?

    – Who from? What for?

    Will her tour include ’shows’ in ‘alternative venues’?

    – Youbetcha. That’ll be how you know she isn’t doing it for the money.

    Should classical music stop trying so hard?

    – I’m not sure classical music was invited to this party at all.

    Does this signal the end of the alt-classical epoch?

    - You mean “will six blogs and absolutely nobody else stop using a useless designation that doesn’t mean anything at all”? I hope so.

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  • about brian sacawa

    Brian Sacawa is the Curator of the Contemporary Museum's Mobtown Modern music series.

    As a saxophonist, Brian has been called many things—most of them good—including "an inventive musician" (The New York Times), "inspired" (The Washington Post), and "brilliant" (Baltimore Sun). His versatile career has led to appearances ranging from Carnegie Hall to Baltimore's Metro Gallery and with ensembles including the Baltimore Symphony, Detroit Symphony, New World Symphony, and St. Petersburg (Russia) Philharmonic.

    Brian can be heard on the Grammy-winning album Songs of Innocence and Experience (Naxos) and his critically-acclaimed debut solo recording, American Voices, is available on the Innova record label.

    You can learn more about Brian on his website, where you're likely to find out that he also performs in the genre-bending duo Hybrid Groove Project and is a Category 2 bicycle racer for District Velocity Racing p/b The Bike Rack.

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