Renowned soprano Renée Fleming to perform at the Symphony Gala Jan. 20

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World-renowned soprano Renée Fleming will make her Jacksonville debut at the Jacksonville Symphony’s 2018 Gala Saturday, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m.

Fleming, who has been hailed as the “possessor of the most sheerly beautiful soprano voice on the planet,” (The Telegraph) will perform a combination of famed classical works, including Puccini’s “O Mio Babbino Caro” from “Gianni Schicchi” and Richard Strauss’ “Four Last Songs.” The program will also feature works from the beloved musical “My Fair Lady” and Gershwin’s well-known “Porgy and Bess.”

“I'm delighted that Renée Fleming is joining us for our 2018 Gala for her first appearance in Jacksonville,” Music Director Courtney Lewis said. “Her talent is unparalleled, and I know her performance will enrapture all those in attendance.”

The first classical artist ever to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the Super Bowl, Fleming is a four-time Grammy winner and has been sought after on numerous distinguished occasions, from the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony to performances in Beijing during the 2008 Olympic Games. In 2014, she sang in the televised concert at the Brandenburg Gate to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. In 2012, in an historic first, she sang on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in the Diamond Jubilee Concert for Queen Elizabeth. A ground-breaking distinction came in 2008 when Fleming became the first woman in the 125-year history of the Metropolitan Opera to solo headline an opening night gala.

In 2018, Fleming will make her Broadway musical debut in a major revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Carousel.” Her 2017-2018 recital and concert schedule spans the globe, including Budapest, Vienna, Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, London, Madrid, Helsinki, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Beijing, Seoul, Houston, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York.

The 2018 “Evening of Grandeur” Gala will feature a VIP Reception, concert, VIP dinner and an After Glow Party. A limited number of VIP tickets are available for this concert and can be purchased by calling Kyle Enriquez at (904) 354-4092. Concert-only tickets start at $75 and can be purchased at JaxSymphony.org or by calling the Symphony ticket office at (904) 354-5547.