The divine Miss R.

Young Chang

Renee Fleming sang jazz as an undergraduate student in Potsdam, New

York. At the time, singing “music [that was] 300 years old” was

unfathomable to her peers.

But as a graduate student at the Eastman School of Music, Fleming

found herself turning away from the rhythms of Cole Porter and George

Gershwin. Instead, she fell in love with the classical genre. Today, she

is a diva of the opera world -- the same archaic world she almost didn’t

step into.

While teen sensations give “diva” a funky, contemporary rap, Fleming

reminds us of the original definition -- “divine or god.”

The American-born soprano earned the title for her acclaimed,

expressive voice, her far-reaching repertoire and her experience in

singing just about everything, whether it’s Gershwin or Strauss, opera or

jazz.

Her program for Sunday’s “Voices in Song” concert at the Orange County

Performing Arts Center reflects Fleming’s diversity, with works by

composers Handel, Strauss, Puccini, Debussy, Gershwin and even some

emotional Rachmaninov.

Jerry Mandel, president of the Orange County Performing Arts Center,

said diva is a fitting title for Fleming because “diva is just what you

call the person who is the superstar.”

Having first appeared at the Center in 1990 singing the role of Donna

Elvira for Opera Pacific’s “Don Giovanni,” Fleming returns with a greater

sense of the superstar status.

“With her work around the world, she’s just become a major, major

performer,” Mandel said. “Her discs sell, she’s really captured the

imagination of people in the opera world.”

In the past dozen years, Fleming has captured a Grammy Award for her

album “The Beautiful Voice” and sung in roles including Desdemona for

Verdi’s “Otello,” the Marschallin for Strauss’ “Der Rosenkavalier” and

title roles for Massenet’s “Manon” and Strauss’ “Arabella.”

Fleming’s concert credits include performances in jazz, German Lieder

and art songs genres with orchestras including the Berlin Philharmonic,

the Vienna Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the

Philadelphia Orchestra.

Her favorite operatic role has been the Marschallin from “Der

Rosenkavalier.” She’s a 1700s German woman who romps through the romantic

comedy with a much younger lover.

“She’s just an extraordinarily complex and real human being,” Fleming

said. “The Marschallin also, I find, epitomizes the feminine experience

and I find it doubly interesting that she was composed and written by two

men.”

Fleming has also sung the part of Violetta, a Parisian courtesan who

looks for love but meets a tragic end, for Verdi’s “La Traviatta.”

“I do a lot of unusual repertoire, not a lot of bread and butter

repertoire, and I felt that was a role that would suit me and in which I

could communicate something special,” Fleming said.

With her broad taste in musical roles and a busy performing schedule

that has her jetting around the world, Fleming says she has to guard

against getting tired.

“It takes a physical and vocal toll,” the 43-year-old said.

She calls the voice a “frail instrument,” especially the way it’s used

for operatic singing.

“Even doctors don’t fully understand how we produce the sounds we do

and not harm the vocal chords,” she said. “In a way, it’s controlled

screaming.”

Many sopranos have ended their careers early, Fleming continued. But

she plans to be like Australian soprano Joan Sutherland, whose career

lasted more than four decades.

“I’m just approaching my prime, so I hope I’ll be around for awhile,”

Fleming said.

FYI

* What: Soprano Renee Fleming performs

* When: 2 p.m. Sunday

* Where: Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive,

Costa Mesa

* Cost: $25-$65

* Call: (714) 740-7878