All the Times Renée Fleming Was Featured on a Film’s Soundtrack
By David SalazarRenée Fleming, born on Valentine’s Day, is widely known in pop culture. Perhaps more than any other singer in the world, her voice has become a signature of the mainstream when people refer to opera.
One might point to her iconic Super Bowl appearance a few years back when she became the first opera singer to sing at the widely viewed event. But she’s also done crossover work that has boosted her image and has also appeared in more movie soundtracks than most singers.
In sum, she has appeared in over 15 films. Here is a look at what she has done on the silver screen.
Immortal Beloved
This was the first vocal appearance for the soprano in a fiction film. She sings from Beethoven’s “Missa Solemnis.”
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
In this Michael Hoffman film, Fleming appears singing “Casta Diva” and the Brindisi from “La Traviata.”
Bride of the Wind
Mahler’s “Rückert-Lieder No. 5” is the selection that makes an appearance with the soprano after the death of Mahler’s young child.
She also appears in the movie as Frances Alda.
Piglet’s Big Movie
In this film, Fleming takes on the song “Comforting to Know.”
The Lord of the Rings
If you look through the soprano’s credits throughout most of her early years, you’ll notice that her voice is mainly used within the context of pre-recorded music. You’ll see arias or songs from other artists inserted into the film. But then she makes the appearance in “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” as part of an original track by Howard Shore, known as “Twilight and Shadow.” This is one of the few times that the soprano appears in original music on a soundtrack of this scale.
Check it out below:
Look at Me
In the 2004, the soprano appeared in the Agnès Jaoui film singing a passage from Mozart’s “Così fan tutte.”
Closer
The American soprano is all over Mike Nicols’ “Closer,” singing quite a bit of music from “Così fan tutte,” including “Bella vita militar!”, “Non v’e piu tempo, anici”, “Di scriverni ogni giorno”, “Eccovi il medico, signore belle!”, and “Dammi un bacio, o mio Tesoro.”
Broken Sky
In this film, she appears in her signature “Song to the Moon” from “Rusalka.”
Suddenly
In his 2006 film, Michael Nyqvist has Fleming appear in, you guessed it, “Soave sia il vento” from “Così Fan Tutte.”
Point Blank
Fred Cavayé’s 2010 thriller also features the soprano, this time singing from Catalani’s “La Wally.” The selection? The iconic aria “Ebben? Ne andrò lontana.”
Margaret
Fleming actually appears in this film physically in the Kenneth Lonergan film. She sings from “Les Contes d’Hoffmann.”
The Adventures of Tintin
This appearance was mentioned in a previous installment of “Opera Meets Film.” Check it out!
Rise of the Guardians
The animated Peter Ramsey film showcases Fleming performing “Still Dream.”
Now You See Me 2
The 2016 film also featured a vocal appearance from the soprano singing “O Mio Babbino Caro.”
The Shape of Water
In 2017, the soprano got a chance to showcase her talents in two different films, both of them going on to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. The first of these is “The Shape of Water,” where she shows off her crossover talent in the song “You’ll Never Know.”
3 Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
We’ve actually highlighted this Renée Fleming moment quite prominently in our Opera Meets Film series. Check it out.
Which is your favorite Renée Fleming appearance in a movie? Let us know in the comments below!