Dark Hope
Encyclopedia
Dark Hope is a 2010 album of indie rock
titles sung by operatic soprano
Renée Fleming
.
The album was the idea of Peter Mensch and Cliff Burnstein; after listening to Fleming's performance of "In the Pines" on Elvis Costello
's TV show Spectacle
, they approached Fleming and producer David Kahne
. The aim was not to produce a typical crossover
album, but a collection of songs sung without any hint of operatic vocal strength.
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
titles sung by operatic soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
Renée Fleming
Renée Fleming
Renée Fleming is an American soprano specializing in opera and lieder. Fleming has a full lyric soprano voice.Fleming has performed coloratura, lyric, and lighter spinto soprano repertoires. She has sung roles in Italian, German, French, Czech, and Russian, aside from her native English. She also...
.
The album was the idea of Peter Mensch and Cliff Burnstein; after listening to Fleming's performance of "In the Pines" on Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
's TV show Spectacle
Spectacle: Elvis Costello with...
Spectacle: Elvis Costello with... was a UK/Canadian television series, shown on Channel 4 in the UK, CTV in Canada and the Sundance Channel in the United States. The show features intimate interviews between the host, Elvis Costello, and various musical guests intertwined with performances by...
, they approached Fleming and producer David Kahne
David Kahne
David Kahne is an American record producer. Kahne started his musical career as a working musician and then became notable for his role as in-house producer and engineer at 415 Records, the first American new wave music label, and for his subsequent roles as Vice President of A&R at Columbia...
. The aim was not to produce a typical crossover
Crossover (music)
Crossover is a term applied to musical works or performers appearing on two or more of the record charts which track differing musical tastes, or genres...
album, but a collection of songs sung without any hint of operatic vocal strength.
Track listing
Performance credits
- Rusty AndersonRusty AndersonRusty Anderson is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter and music producer. He is best known as lead guitarist with Paul McCartney, though he has worked with an extensive list of artists in addition to his own solo career.-Early life:Rusty Anderson grew up in La Habra, California...
, Nick Valensi – guitar - David KahneDavid KahneDavid Kahne is an American record producer. Kahne started his musical career as a working musician and then became notable for his role as in-house producer and engineer at 415 Records, the first American new wave music label, and for his subsequent roles as Vice President of A&R at Columbia...
– bass, guitar, keyboards - Will LeeWill Lee (bassist)Will Lee aka William Franklin Lee IV is an American musician and bassist, best known for his work on the CBS television program The Late Show with David Letterman as part of the CBS Orchestra....
– bass - Shawn PeltonShawn PeltonShawn Pelton is a New York City-based studio and session drummer. Pelton has worked with the Backstreet Boys, Sheryl Crow, Shawn Colvin, Bruce Springsteen, Celine Dion and Billy Joel...
– drums - Jesse Mills, Cyrus Beroukhin – violin
- Dov ScheindlinArditti QuartetThe Arditti Quartet is a string quartet founded in 1974. The quartet is associated particularly with contemporary music.-Early history:The quartet was founded in 1974 by violinist Irvine Arditti together with John Senter, Levine Andrade and Lenox Mackenzie...
, William Hakim – viola - Wendy Sutter – celloEx Vatican StradivariusThe Ex Vatican Stradivarius is a cello crafted circa 1620 by Nicolo Amati, master to Antonio Stradivari. The instrument was originally crafted as a viola da gamba and converted into a cello by Stradivari...
- Alexis Pia Gerlach – cello
- Amelia Ross, Sage Ross (Flemings's daughters), Rachelle Fleming, (Renée's sister) – background vocals
- Mike Rossi – conductor
Technical credits
- Roy Hendrickson – engineer
- David KahneDavid KahneDavid Kahne is an American record producer. Kahne started his musical career as a working musician and then became notable for his role as in-house producer and engineer at 415 Records, the first American new wave music label, and for his subsequent roles as Vice President of A&R at Columbia...
– arranger, programming, producer, engineer - Rebecca Meek – art direction
External links
- Renée Fleming: Dark Hope
- "Opera Star Renée Fleming Takes on Arcade Fire, Death Cab for Cutie on 'Dark Hope'" by Daniel Kreps, Rolling StoneRolling StoneRolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
(25 February 2010)