“Steal me, sweet thief” Gian Carlo Menotti from The Old Maid and the Thief (1911-2007); Evelyn Saavedra, soprano; Andrew Stephens, piano. // University of Rochester Eastman School of Music graduate and acclaimed soprano Renée Fleming conducts a master class at her alma mater’s Kilbourn Hall, September 28, 2015. // photo by J. Adam Fenster / University of Rochester
It’s a rare occurrence when a young person has an opportunity to be directly encouraged and taught by a person who is not only a leader in their field, but also whose celebrity transcends that field. Imagine having a basketball lesson with Michael Jordan, a discussion about entrepreneurship with Mark Zuckerberg, or a tennis lesson with Venus Williams. It would be life-changing.
It was that rare encounter that took place on the stage of Eastman’s Kilbourn Hall on September 28, when the famed and beloved operatic soprano, Renée Fleming, shared some of her deep knowledge and expertise with a group of aspiring young artists. Ms. Fleming, a native of the Rochester area known around the world as “the people’s diva”, showed that she is not only one of the greatest vocalists of our time, but also a skilled educator who can translate her wisdom into practical guidance that has immediate impact on students’ lives.
Ms. Fleming, who was recently named Distinguished Visiting Artist at the Eastman School of Music, took time out of a busy performance schedule to include a brief, but important, stopover in Rochester, New York to conduct a master class preceded by a Q&A session led by Jamal Rossi, the Dean of the Eastman School of Music. Dean Rossi, along with students, asked a wide variety of questions ranging from controlling stage fright, to handling difficult situations on stage, to maintaining a healthy lifestyle while traveling.
Ms. Fleming also discussed how the upcoming singer or musician needs to maintain an entrepreneurial mindset. As the world of music is changing rapidly, the young artist must be skilled in areas outside of performance: marketing, finance, communications, and technology. Additionally, she stated that it’s important to find ways to form partnerships with other art forms in order to increase performing opportunities.
In terms of actual skills that are necessary in the operatic world, Ms. Fleming stressed the need to not just read and speak the languages of the art form, but to actually assimilate into those cultures as much as you are able. She suggested that European experience is “crucial” for an operatic career, as it would help to provide a strong foundation for understanding the music, enabling the artist to project this authenticity in musical performance. In her own background, being able to speak German has been vital to her performance of Strauss, Mozart, and others.
One student asked about what to look for in an accompanist. Ms. Fleming explained that it is important to work closely with a pianist who not only has an exceptionally high level of musicianship, but also someone who is supportive, helpful, and versatile enough to perform works ranging from art song, to the American Songbook, to jazz, and more.
The young artists featured in the master class included sopranos Evelyn Saavedra and Arielle Nachtigal; baritone Aaron Bigeleisen; tenor Nathaniel McEwen, and pianists Andrew Stephens, Christopher Kayler, Corey Chang, and Wei-Wei Hsu. They performed works by Menotti, Brahms, Mozart, and Britten.
Ms. Fleming not only focused on the students onstage, but also included the audience in demonstrating breathing and relaxation techniques that could be helpful in producing the proper airflow and support to sing. (This was no doubt also beneficial to any wind instrumentalists who were present in the audience.)
In a lighthearted moment, Ms. Fleming reached into her purse and withdrew a set of straws and had one of the students hum through a straw to demonstrate a specific airflow technique. While it was humorous, she encouraged the students to utilize this concept, which could be helpful in numerous ways.
One of the most important ideas that Ms. Fleming shared with Eastman students is that when they leave school, they are in charge of their futures and their career paths. “The power is in you…visualization [and] creativity will help you decide your future!” She suggested that it’s important to look beyond performance and ask how much of what we do is valued in this society. “To change this perception, consider working with children and community to show them how they need you…”
We look forward to many future visits and to learning more from Eastman’s first Distinguished Visiting Artist.
–Richard Kessel, Eastman Executive Director of Communications