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List Price: $17.98 | | Label: Decca
Salesrank: 35261
Released: May 10, 2005 |
| Our Price: $9.89 |
| Used Price: $3.49 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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Haunted Heart Track Listing:
1. Haunted Heart
2. River
3. When Did You Leave Heaven?
4. You've Changed
5. Answer Me
6. My Cherie Amour
7. In My Life
8. The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
9. Wozzeck/The Midnight Sun
10. Liebst du um Schönheit
11. My One And Only Love/This Is Always
12. Canção do Amor
13. Psyché
14. Hard Times Come Again No More
Editorial Review:
While countless fans flock to see soprano Renee Fleming's performances of the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro because she's got the voice and the dramatic ability to handle such meaty roles, the versatile singer throws her fans a curveball on Haunted Heart, singing popular standards and ballads as well as a few altered classical pieces. In her liner notes, Fleming calls this album a "look back at the road not taken" -- she played a weekly gig in a jazz club while in school. Nonetheless, her feel for the material here is undeniable. Interestingly, she drops her voice a full octave from her usual tessitura, and the change reveals a robust gospel-oriented approach filled with dramatic breaths and moans. The lyrical Fred Hersch (piano) and the idiosyncratic Bill Frisell (guitar) provide support, and both are adventurous jazz players who create subtle and uniquely haunting backdrops. It adds up to an interesting cross-section of ideas well carried off by the generous talents of all involved. --Tad Hendrickson
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Interview with Renee Fleming
Renee Fleming speaks about recent projects, including her memoir The Inner Voice and her recent Handel CD, in our interview.
Haunted Heart Reviews:
Emotive 
2009-04-19 - When I first listened to this album, I felt each track was very much the same as the next. But I sat and listened intently the second time around, and felt quite differently. This album is intensely moving, deep sadness permeates almost every track - it is about loss, heartbreak. The backing is very simple - just keyboard or guitar but this allows Renee's interpretation to be clearly felt.
Whew, this is really bad ... 
2008-10-07 - As a jazz musician, I can say from my heart that this is a really horrid outing. Practically not listenable. So affected and does not swing at all, not one bit. I don't know why people support this kind of outing and then try to promote it as the real deal. It's embarrassing. Why is Fred Hersch involved in this?
Ms. Fleming has a lovely operatic voice, though lately taken over by ridiculous affectation and mannerism. Really, where has she gone?
" With Eileen Farrell whispering in her ear" 
2008-08-10 - I began to appreciate this cd with the 2nd listening. I wasn't immediately impressed. Renee Fleming has one of the greatest voices in opera history. Her Marschallin has no equal. Many opera singers have crashed when attempting a different musical style. For me, the reason is they use their operatic voice to sing the new style. This produces a "heavy", undesirable sound. When I heard Renee Fleming sing " Summertime" from Porgy & Bess, I knew she could sing anything.Her voice possesses beauty and emotion most singers lack.
This cd is so unbelievably fantastic. "Haunted Heart" gets the ball rolling. You are transported into a dark, smoky jazz club in the Latin Quarter of New Orleans. A lovely chanteuse serenades you for the next hour. "River", "My one and only" and " Haunted Heart" are the stars of this cd.
I think of Sarah Vaughan and Nina Simone when I hear this cd. It's a masterpiece. The "Answer Me" arrangement and a couple other I didn't care for. But, even on those, Renee's delivery was superb. Please,Please,Please buy this cd!!! I hope the naysayers haven't discouraged Renee from making a foray into jazz again.
My best stress reliever!
2008-07-05 - There are many that don't think Fleming does jazz "right" on this recording, or they don't like the trained, operatic quality in her singing. I would disagree. It is the fact that she carries over her attention to detail from the classical world that makes this recording great. My friends joke about the calming effect this CD has on me. If ever I'm stressed out, I can rely on this music to even me out. I think if you like Renee Fleming, you will like this CD.
Great voice and songs, needed a bit more umph tho. 
2008-04-21 - She has a great voice and this cd was great. In fact, i know she sings well for opera but she has the voice for great jazz as well. The only thing about this cd tho was the tempo for the songs. She draws out pretty much every song like an aria all most. Not that it was bad but for me a bit draggy and she has the talent for the more upbeat jazz songs.
