Article from Mississippi Magazine

Jan./Feb. 2010 Issue

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Mississippi Opera is celebrating its 65th anniversary, making it the tenth oldest continuously running opera company in the country. The University of Southern Missis-sippi Orchestra is celebrating the school’s centennial in conjunction with Renée Fleming’s appearance. A world renowned opera singer, Fleming will perform in Jackson on January 29. Chorus member Merina Dillard, James Martin as Marcello, Maryann Kyle as Musetta, Kreshnik Zhabjaku as Schaunard, Raffaele Sepe as Rodolfo, Stephanie Gregory as Mimi, Daniel Hague as Colline in La Bohème. Stephanie Gregory as Mimi and Raffaele Sepe as Rodolfo perform in the Mississippi Opera’s La Bohème.

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Mississippians have a unique oppor-tunity to attend a world-class event in Jackson.

Internationally renowned Ameri-can soprano Renée Fleming is com-ing to Thalia Mara Hall on January 29, in celebration of the University of Southern Mississippi’s centennial and Mississippi Opera’s 65th Anniversary. Known as “the people’s diva” with a “voice of liquid gold,” Fleming is the preeminent jewel of the opera-music world.

There will be only one performance. The closest Fleming has ever performed to Mississippi was in Birmingham, Alabama, in 2002.

A ten-time Grammy nominated artist and two-time Grammy winner, Fleming has recorded everything from Strauss’ complete Daphne to the jazz recording Haunted Heart to the movie soundtrack of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Fleming is planning to include songs from her latest CD, Verismo, released in fall 2009, in the January concert.

Also planned for the January per-formance are three pieces that require local vocalists on stage performing with Fleming. “Ms. Fleming requested this specifically,” explains Mississippi Opera artistic director Alan Mann.

“Some guest artists will sing a concert, say thank you, and leave. Ms. Fleming has graciously agreed to stay after the performance for a sold-out reception at the Governor’s Mansion.”

American soprano Renée Fleming, the crown jewel of the opera-music world, offers Mississippians an unforgettable evening and a rare opportunity.

by clancy mitchell

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Along with a few USM student vocalists, singers partici-pating in The Best of Opera Choruses held in November at Belhaven College Center for the Arts were able to audition for a chance to sing with Ms. Fleming. “The Chorus has been the backbone of Mississippi Opera for 65 years,” says Mann.

“Limiting our auditions to members of the Chorus is a way to say thank you for being an integral part of our continued success.”

Bringing a person of this caliber to Mississippi required collaboration between the University of Southern Mississippi and Mississippi Opera. “We were looking for something big to kick off the University of Southern Mississippi’s Centen-nial celebration,” says Dr. Mike Lopinto, marketing and event manager for the College of Arts and Letters at the University of Southern Mississippi. “The USM Orchestra has become synonymous with big-name events. The arts are a very promi-nent part of USM’s culture.”

USM has been responsible for bringing a number of lead-ing artists to the state, including violinist Itzhak Perlman, tenor Placido Domingo, cellist and composer Yo-Yo Ma, and singer Patti LaBelle. Lopinto adds, “When these artists come to our state, they are blown away by the level of the orchestra, professionalism, and hospitality they receive.”

For the 2009-2010 season, Fleming will conduct perfor-mances in numerous venues, including London, Germany,

Austria, Chicago, and New York, as well as Jackson.“To opera lovers, this is like the queen coming to America,”

says Lopinto. “No one will be disappointed.” Dr. Jay Dean, Director of Orchestral Activities and pro-

fessor at USM, began a conversation with IMG Artists, who represents Renée Fleming, while in New York in 2003. “You have to start talking with her people that far in advance,” states Dean.

However, it wasn’t until after Placido Domingo performed on the Mississippi Coast in 2005 and after Hurricane Katrina that the serious conversations began.

“When I saw the centennial approaching, I talked to the president of the university to see if she would approve my ap-proaching Fleming about being the centennial artist, and the answer was a resounding ‘Yes’,” explains Dean. “We needed a partner and approached Mississippi Opera who also agreed to sponsor this event.”

Renée Fleming’s performance marks the fourth collabora-tion between Mississippi Opera and USM. The organizations first worked together in 2005 for a joint performance of La traviata. “This is a rather unique collaboration in the U.S.,” explains Mississippi Opera artistic director Alan Mann. “It benefits us both to pool our resources.”

“This event will bring statewide, regional, and national at-tention to both of our organizations,” adds Dean. “Hopefully,

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Arlandra Harvey as Dr. Bartolo, James Martin as Figaro, Maryann Kyle as Countess Almaviva, Rocío Tamez as Marcellina in the production of The Marriage of Figaro. Sarah Callinan as Susanna, Maryann Kyle as Countess Almaviva, Hilary Ginther as Cherubino are pictured in The Marriage of Figaro. Dr. Jay Dean is the director of orchestral activities and a professor at USM. Fleming will be hosted at a sold out reception at the Governor’s Mansion. The USM orchestra will experience its fourth collaboration with the Mississippi Opera with Flemings performance.

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photo university of southern mississippi photo services

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because of our partnership, we can be a model for similar organizations to work together.”

The collaboration provides an educational program for Mississippi Opera and an opportunity to develop young art-ists with Mississippi roots. “Graduating students’ resumes include time spent with a professional opera house where as many as three to four performances can be listed,” states Mann. The collaboration has recently garnered national at-tention with an article in Opera America magazine.

Mississippi Opera is celebrating its 65th anniversary, mak-ing it the tenth oldest continuously running opera company in the country.

Mississippi Opera is unique in that it was started after the Second World War by a group who wanted to bring opera to the city. “We had a very grassroots beginning, and that is how we continue to conduct ourselves,” explains Mann.

Opera is increasing in size and popularity, and Renée Fleming is a big part of that movement. Over the past few sea-sons, Ms. Fleming has begun hosting a variety of television and radio broadcasts, including the Metropolitan Opera’s Live in HD series for movie theaters and television, and Live from Lincoln Center of PBS. “The Met broadcasts in high defi-nition in real time to movie theaters throughout the country,” explains Mann. “We are fortunate to have a theater in our area that receives these broadcasts, Cinemark Tinseltown in Pearl.” In October, Renée Fleming was the host of one of these events. More than 50 people gathered at Tinseltown to watch world-class opera happening live.

“It’s a wonderful benefit to people in the Jackson area,” states Sherry Harfst, marketing director for the Mississippi Opera. “There are cameras at every angle on the stage with the performers. It is like having a front-row seat. During the intermissions, the cameras take you backstage with the singers and include interviews and other behind-the-scenes features.” This season will feature nine live and nine encore performances from October through May at Tinseltown Theater.

Ms. Fleming has performed for Prince Charles at Bucking-ham Palace and for the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. In 2008, she became the first woman in the 125-year history of the Metropolitan Opera to headline an opening night gala.

“We’re not only doing this to attract people to the state of Mississippi, but it is also something we’re doing for the people who live in this state,” explains Jay Dean. “This is an event not to be missed by people interested in bringing culture to Mississippi.”

So don your best attire (as Ms. Fleming will undoubtedly be frocked in something spectacular, having worn gowns designed by Bill Blass, Vivienne Westwood, Oscar de la Renta, Christian Lacroix, and Karl Lagerfeld, just to name a few) and make plans to spend an evening with Renée Fleming, The Voice of the Century. M

Renée FlemingThe Voice of the Century

January 29, 2010 | 7:30 P.M. | Thalia Mara HallJackson, Mississippi

For tickets: 601.960.2300 or 1.877.MS.OPERAwww.voiceofthecentury.net

For more information on Mississippi Opera:www.msopera.org

For more information on the University of Southern Mississippi Centennial Celebration:

www.usm.edu/centennial

For more information on the University of Southern Mississippi Symphony Orchestra:

www.usm.edu/symphony

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