The Green Room

By Abby Synnes

Legendary soprano Renée Fleming has dazzled audiences with her majestic voice and poise ever since her professional debut in 1986. Renée’s extensive list of accomplishments include: 

• Acting on Broadway in “Living on Love” and “Carousel” 
• Having her vocals featured in the soundtracks for the Best Picture winners “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” and “The Shape of Water” 
• Being the first classical artist to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the Super Bowl
• Winning four Grammy Awards, including three Grammy Awards for Best Classical Solo Performance
• Receiving the 2012 National Medal of Arts from President Barack Obama for her contributions to American music

The Wisconsin Union is thrilled to welcome “the people’s diva” into Shannon Hall in April for a long-awaited recital—and much more!

Renée will kick off her weekend in Wisconsin with a presentation on “Music and the Mind” in Shannon Hall on April 28 at 7 p.m. “Music and the Mind” promotes the power of music in relation to health and the brain, and is a collaboration between the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the National Institutes of Health, in association with the National Endowment for the Arts.

“Music and the Mind” explores how music can benefit different divisions within the healthcare field, including:

• Childhood development
• Chronic pain
• Communication disorders (e.g. autism, TBI, stroke)
• Memory disorders (e.g. Alzheimer’s, dementia) and creative aging
• Mental health and behavior (e.g. PTSD, depression, ADHD)
• Movement disorders (e.g. Parkinson’s, MS, stroke)

During her presentation, Renée will educate her audience about the transformative power of music. Additionally, she aims to amplify the incredible work being done at the intersection of music, health and neuroscience by collaborating with local professionals in these fields during each presentation. Stay tuned for more information on how to purchase a ticket to Renée’s “Music and the Mind” presentation. 

On April 29, Renée will conduct a studio class. In this opportunity of a lifetime, five select student musicians will perform in front of Renée, who will offer insight and suggestions as to how to bring their talent to the next level. Tickets to the class are free, and it is open to the public, giving audiences an intimate look into Renée’s performance techniques and process. The studio class will take place at 4 p.m. in the Collins Recital Hall in the Mead Witter School of Music.

Finally, Renée will perform a recital on April 30 at 7 p.m. Renée had been scheduled to perform at the Wisconsin Union in May 2020, but COVID-19 caused the performance to be postponed until now. After nearly two years, Renée will make her long-anticipated Shannon Hall debut.

While her program is not yet announced, Renée’s repertoire spans centuries, genres, and languages. She has performed pieces ranging anywhere from 18th-century arias to contemporary indie rock. Renée has proven her mastery of music time and time again; no matter what challenge is thrown her way, she tackles each performance with grace and strength, distinguishing herself as America’s favorite soprano. 

Tickets for this recital are included in a full six-show subscription to the Wisconsin Union Theater Concert Series. Single tickets are expected to go on sale in early 2022. Click here to learn more about this event.

Check out the Wisconsin Union event calendar to stay up-to-date on all upcoming Union Theater events.