Renee Fleming "Aint it a pretty night" Susannah by Floyd

[kcliffo8]

This song is terrifically heart-wrenching! The opera is so sad. Fleming portrays the young girl's naivety and innocence perfectly. 

[mayo0di0niero]

her voice reminds me of leontyne price, just beautiful

[jawhitney25]

It's hard for me to decide if 2004-2008 is my favorite Renee voice period or if 1994-1998 was her greatest time...and seeing/listening to this makes me wonder if she's ever been quite this unfettered and raw. She is simply stunning. After 20 years on the international stage, she's still one of the greats. What a woman.

[OperaLover84]

@kaj151 Agree 100% -- but don't forget her divine "Marietta's Lied" too ;)

[novasafo]

Back in the day, watching this broadcast on TV was exactly the moment I fell in love with Renee Fleming.

[Emmiline87]

Exquisite! Such a beautiful aria and Renee Fleming definitely does it justice :)

[TheFerrando123]

Her brilliance here is just exquisite!!! I have been in love with her timbre and musicianship for years. Her pianissimos are to DIE for!!!

[Tdubsish]

this proves that she truly is one of the greats!

[jtdendy]

truly, truly gorgeous!

[genietja]

Ah... this is just beautiful.

[sillyboydeux]

Well, we opera queens love to tease the big stars, as if they care anyway!

But here the joke stops: she is singing with whole heart, body and soul and the wind of the muse's breath is behind her. Susannah is an ideal role for her, and Carlisle Floyd is as great as Puccini was in his day. I saw the City Opera production in the 80s with Faith Esham and Sam Ramey, and it was ravishing, devastating, life-changing. We are blessed to have Renée in our midst, a real American style diva! La Voce!

[MrFalsettoVoice]

who in their right mind could ever dislike this?

[Scalatti]

Cheryl Studer's sublime and yet-to-be-matched interpretation is now in my channel.

[klmnumbers]

Her interpretation of this gorgeous aria moves me no matter how many times I watch this video. Her voice sounds beautiful all throughout the range even down to the fairly low notes for a soprano piece. Her face is so expressive, and this performance is beautiful.

[Pashley91684]

@kaj151 Renee is a fantastic artist and singer. Although I don't like her Handel in Mozart, her Russian and heavier rep is superb.

[Opera88]

Love her! People should read her biography 'The Inner Voice: The Making of a Singer' --- It is wonderful!

[amm1t5]

kaj151 I agree with you. Je l'adore. I find that her rendition of ''The trees on the mountain'' ids the best. :)

[BDWYSTARNYC]

This is utterly amazing!!  One of Renee's greatest performances in my opinion. Perfection!

[OperaLover84]

@kaj151 could not agree more! don't forget her Met "Dove sono" ;)

[nicktnewt]

beautiful!!!

[Lindow]

My Godness! That was as perfect as any artitst could ever get in a live performance. I wish she would still sing with this simplicity, especially when it comes to vocal production. She is still a great singer but her mannerisms sometimes really annoy me.

[lamusicahera]

There she has been gorgeous !

Today she has changed her technique with to much darkening

And she sings still the big heavy repertoire

This is not good for her voice and sometimes

I guess that she has lost to much weight

and that she didnt have the right physical feeling by singing sometimes

She has been one of the best american liricosopranos

[Chilair1]

Man, there is nothing like renee in the '90's

[melissaisziggy]

This gave me chills because of how amazing it was. Renee Fleming is absolutely incredible. Brava!!! :D

[tenorlovesasoprano]

Renee Fleming at her best! Oh my goodness. This is absolutely breathtkaing. Brava

[wannamlwithu]

I always love Renee...she's so amazing! thanks for posting it :)

[cptnunderwhere]

straight lights - I wonder what that is....?

[SexyHogwarts]

She was fantastic! I have to sing this song as well as mozarts alleluja!

AAHHHH! its gonna be a hard semester!

[kaleonani77]

I'm learning this piece. And it way harder than Ms. Fleming makes it look!!!! I love that ppp she does with the A natural....just a pinpoint of energy! I *heart* Fleming too!

[elisarig]

So absolutely wonderful! I'm thinking of learning this aria and this video both inspires and intimidates the hell out of me. She is sublime.

[jtdendy]

so gorgeous

[operacrasher]

One of the VERY BEST....of ALL TIME !!

[ifmusicbe]

Gorgeous aria, sung with exceptional beauty and polish. Renee Fleming is a wonder, but a little spontaneity wouldn't hurt. (That's a minor criticism that one can make only after a singer has reached technical perfection.)

[yulisaaa]

She's a goddess. There is no doubt about this.

[evilsushix]

gah i've watched this at least 10 times just today. It's so beautiful!

[rootedinfaith3]

It's nice to hear opera songs with English origins.

[wags214]

INCREDIBLE!!!

[soundlogik]

Absolutely heart wrenching! I could die listening to this.

[jaymeeharkeen]

@soundlogik me too, me too.

[peacocktravels]

shes not using the southern accent here

[patrickometry]

sublime perfection .. shimmering wonder .. gorgeous lyrical beauty

[baburton1981]

speechless

[klmnumbers]

I'm pretty sure this is one of the most beautiful arias I've ever heard. It's the only one that makes me want to be a soprano.

Renee has such control of her top, and Mr.Floyd wrote such a gorgeous show.

I had the honor of being Mrs. Ott in high school XD Go team Mezzo (we had no contraltos, heh)

[grandmagrumpy]

Just saw Susannah w/lead played by Pamela Armstrong who was superb. That has to be one of the more difficult arias to sing.

[jerrysings]

Wow, this made me cry!!  I am not even a huge fan of Renee's, but I have to say this is the best I have ever heard this piece done.

[lornabegbie]

Beautiful colouring of the voice, stunning top note, entrancing.

[aquarius21379]

Damn! Amazing. Such power. And I love how she chooses to use her voice. If you listen to many of her performances and recitals, the variations of her vocal use are so fun and incredible.

[ErnaSack]

WHAT A FABULOUS BREATH CONTROL! And..she sings it with three time sthe voice of Battle or upshaw.

GRAND singing from wonderful singing star!

[urgrad03]

I completely agree that it's lovely singing... of that there's no doubt. However, the reason you may be put off my the Battle or Upshaw renditions is due to the fact that they are respectful of the fact that Susannah is, indeed, a very young girl (not a voluptuous woman;).

[tenorino1971]

It's a heavy role, vocally. She has sung the whole role. Battle and Upshaw would never be heard over the orchestra in a house.

[wedidntknow]

i agree!! this is a huge role. Its an awesome role... if you haven't seen the opera you are missing some great music and drama... It will make you laugh and cry.

[pianoandpipes]

This video made me happy! I like this Renee! She is using a music stronger, German technique than she does now. I love it! Perfect for this dramatic work...and I think it suits her voice very well.

I also like a woman who isn't afraid of chest! Several of the girls I've coached on this have had a hard time figuring out what to do with those low notes..but she made a strong decision and stuck with it. Good for her!

[renethel]

Fleming's vocals are so gorgeous and her acting is breathtaking! i love it when an opera singer's acting is as good as her singing!

[nickbigd]

This is by far my favorite aria for her (Depuis le jour comes a close second).

[SingingCrab7]

Amazing! Took my breath away!

[iheartverdi]

This is what had in mind went he wrote Susannah. Beautiful

[snickersxsparkie]

Oneguin65 You Rock! Love her!