ASPEN, Colo. — Renowned soprano Renée Fleming is set to make her directorial debut with Mozart’s “Così fan tutte,” scheduled for three performances at the Aspen Festival from July 21 to July 26.
While the original opera, created in the 18th century by Mozart along with librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte, revolves around a storyline of romantic exchanges set in Naples, Italy, Fleming is reimagining the narrative in a modern context.
“It’s supposed to depict the lives of royalty or aristocracy,” Fleming explained. “Instead, I’m bringing it to a high school setting in 1980s Yarmouth, Massachusetts, during the rise of World Wide Wrestling. The early ’80s also had its share of Jane Fonda aerobics craze.”
Now 66, Fleming remains active in the music scene through various recitals and participation in select contemporary operas, although her last major staged performance from the classical canon took place in 2017.
For this production, conductor Patrick Summers will lead a student cast at the Wheeler Opera House. Summers and Fleming have been collaborating as co-artistic directors of the Aspen Opera Theater and Vocal Arts Program since 2019.
“She is an incredibly versatile talent,” Summers commented. “I have rarely encountered individuals in the opera industry as astute and kind-hearted as Renée Fleming.”
Fleming was initially slated to direct “Cosi” for the Washington National Opera at the Kennedy Center, with performances slated to begin on February 27, 2021. However, those plans were derailed by the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.
Just last week, Fleming stepped down as the artistic adviser at large for the Kennedy Center following the dismissals of its president, Deborah Rutter, and a change in chairmanship from David Rubenstein to President Donald Trump.
The Aspen Festival, which takes place from July 2 to August 24, will also feature the world premiere of Christopher Theofanidis’ “Siddhartha, She” on August 2. This innovative music drama, inspired by Hermann Hesse’s 1922 novel “Siddhartha,” features a libretto by Melissa Studdard and will be conducted by Robert Spano, who has served as the festival’s music director since 2011.
