Renee Fleming is a throwback to the prima donnas of another era. Grounded in the rigorous traditions of bel canto, the extraordinary soprano combines virtuosity, vocal authority, dramatic flair, and glamour in a way that thoroughly captivates audiences. BY REQUEST is a retrospective of sorts. Taken from recordings made over a nine-year span, the album looks back at the singer's remarkable career and offers ample proof of her impressive accomplishments.
The program covers a broad stylistic spectrum and offers a fine demonstration of the breadth of Fleming's range, from Mozartean classicism to French Romanticism, Italian verismo, and Broadway show tunes. Each selection is stamped with the mark of her unmistakable artistry. The disc includes plenty of diva showcases with no lack of vocal pyrotechnics, but the true measure of Fleming's artistic mettle may lie in her beautifully formed accounts of works such as "Mariettas Lied" from Korngold's 'Die tote Stadt,' the aria from 'Bachianas brasileiras No. 5' by Villa-Lobos, Gershwin's "Summertime," and "Cacilie" by Richard Strauss. The album also includes three new recordings including the closing track, a stirring rendition of Rodgers & Hammerstein's "You'll Never Walk Alone."