Renée Fleming - The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress

[taddyd1]

Rich tone but no dyanmic. Go to Ms Baez to here the sad story in this song. The tone of Renee's voice here is very emotional but her phrasing has a bad case of constipation.

[redbrian3655]

Oh no no no no.....

[tholley8215]

Renee's voice is lovely when she's singing Strauss, Berg and Mozart; however, my ears have grown "too accustomed" to her sound in the concert genre to appreciate what she brings to "Moon/Mistress". It's quite beautiful in and of itself, but honestly has me looking for other vocalists' renditions to hear their approach and treatment of such a lovely song. I wouldn't dismiss her recorded performance (as hopefully no one would), but in terms of her vocal timbre the song doesn't seem to fit.

[cruiser1834]

Best version is Radka Toneffs...among the best voices in the last 50 years! Pity she died young.

[roundtheblock1]

I have noticed that Renee Fleming has strong sub-harmonics even when she sings the soprano repertoire. I am thinking in particular of her recording of Richard Strauss's "Four Last Songs."

BTW, unlike some of you, I like the way she sings this Jimmy Webb song. I can't say I like all the songs on that CD, but that has to do with my dislike for the songs themselves, no matter who sings them.

[VelociphileKnight]

There a many opera singers who can sing pop - she ain't one

[JOSECANUCCJ]

I've got to agree-this is not good.

[acrpt]

@JOSECANUCCJ I will make it three. Stay with Mozart and Verdi, babe.

Jimmy Webb has the best version. His piano work and orchestration on this piece is always missed with all the diva (and Joe Cocker) versions.

[acrpt]

@JOSECANUCCJ I will make it three no votes.  Stick with Mozart and Verdi ,babe.

Jimmy Webb has the best version. I always miss his piano work and orchestration with the Diva versions

of this great piece.

[TedMichaelMorgan]

Wow, she nails it. Thank you for posting. I have to buy this recording.

[theblueangel28]

this is sublime

excellent

very uncommon an opera singer can use their lower register well, or sing non-classical material

this is beautiful

[derekethomason]

Turgid

[chetgeyer]

This has got to be some kind of practical joke, Renee!

[dannys2222]

RENEE FLEMING SUCKS AT THIS SONG!! HER VOICE SOUNDS LIKE A DRUNK MAN SINGING!!!!

[dannys2222]

@Seaclam67 UR RIGHT!!! LINDA HAS AMAZING RANGE AND FEELING IN ALL HER SONGS !!! AND HER VERSION OF THIS SONG IS FANTASTIC TOO!!!!

[cj7849]

Atrocious. Ronstadt does it best in her recorded version.

[dannys2222]

@cj7849 TOTALLY AGREE!!!!!!

[virginian2331]

One of the all-time most plaintively beautiful melodies. Almost Celtic in the treatment. Rene's operatic training takes a back seat to her understated vocal and Bill Frisell's wonderful clear-as-bell harmonies and harmomics, with Fred (couldn't make out his last name) are the perfect accompaniment. Ultra tasty, and I bet Jim Webb himself has this on his Ipod...or, he should...

[Mikeyboy51866]

@virginian2331

Sorry Virginian......it took me 5 months to reply to your great commentary.

Of course, it took 5 months for me to see your commentary. (So, I'll go easy on myself then).

Really well written comment by you. You should write music reviews. Webb, Fleming (with a haunting soul to her like Leontyne Price meets Nina Simone) and Bill Frisells harmonics on his guitar remind me of Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah.

[Mikeyboy51866]

Thanks for the thoughtful writing. You really stirred up the gray matter in my head.

[SausageMcNab]

mmmmm, yeah