Opera diva Renée Fleming to perform at the Phillips Center Jan. 20

January 9, 2006

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Renée Fleming, considered by many the “gold standard” of soprano, performs at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 20 at the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. A pre-performance discussion, which is free and open to the public, will be held at 6:45 p.m.

Composer/conductor André Previn may have stated the American soprano’s wide appeal best when he said, “Renée Fleming is the best soprano in the world.” Recognized by her peers, the press and public as one of opera’s most outstanding artists, Fleming is renowned for her sensuous voice, stylistic versatility and captivating stage presence. She has created several roles for the operatic stage and has had many works written expressly for her.

Fleming studied at The Juilliard School and holds degrees from the State University of New York at Postdam and the Eastman School of Music. She also studied in Germany as the recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship. A winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Auditions, she was also the recipient of a Richard Tucker Award, George London Prize and a Grand Prix at the International Singing Competition in Belgium. Fleming has garnered two Grammy Awards and eight Grammy nominations for her recordings.

The program in Gainesville is comprised of over a dozen works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, George Frideric Handel, Leonard Bernstein, Henry Purcell and Robert Schumann. Richard Bado will accompany Fleming on piano.

Shands HealthCare sponsors this performance.

Tickets are: $65, front orchestra and mezzanine; $50, mid-orchestra; $45, rear orchestra; $40, balcony.

Tickets to University of Florida Performing Arts events are available by calling the Phillips Center Box Office at (352) 392-ARTS (2787) or (800) 905-ARTS (2787) or by faxing orders to (352) 846-1562. Tickets are also available at the University Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, www.ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at (904) 353-3309. Cash, Visa and MasterCard are accepted. Group ticket sales are available.

$10 student tickets may be available. Students must purchase tickets in person with student ID at the Phillips Center Box Office or at University Box Office in the Reitz Union. Each student may purchase only one student ticket per performance, for himself or herself only. Student tickets are subject to availability.

The Phillips Center Box Office is open Monday – Saturday, noon to 6 p.m., and two hours prior to performance time. The Box Office will close for the holidays on December 22, 2005 and reopen on January 9, 2006.

Performance dates, times and programs are subject to change.