The world’s most famous operatic soprano, star of the greatest opera houses and concert stages, is finally making her Tulsa debut.
Renée Fleming, the international superstar renowned for the otherworldly beauty of her voice and her nuanced portrayals of opera’s greatest heroines; her crossover work in jazz, indie rock, Broadway, and movie soundtracks like The Lord of the Rings; and her advocacy for the study of the powerful connections between art and health will appear with Tulsa Opera in a one-night-only performance of her acclaimed Voice of Nature: The Anthropocene concert. The concert was inspired by her 2023 Grammy Award-winning album and includes an original film created by the National Geographic Society to reflect the musical selections. It takes place on May 10, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. in Chapman Music Hall at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center and is followed by an exclusive reception in LaFortune Studio for Tulsa Opera.
“It’s impossible to overstate the star power and cultural significance Renée Fleming brings to our
community,” says Lori Decter Wright, General Director, and CEO of Tulsa Opera. “This woman has won five Grammy Awards, the US Medal of Arts, and she’s a 2023 Kennedy Center Honoree. She has appeared on every major world stage and has embodied a shining artistic presence at significant historical and cultural events.”
“Renée Fleming performed at the first-ever 9/11 Memorial,” Decter Wright continued, “she was the first classical artist to sing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl in 2014, and the first woman in the 125-year history of the Metropolitan Opera to solo headline an opening night gala. She is regularly called on to perform at important international events such as the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony and the late Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee. It’s not an exaggeration to say that Renée Fleming’s performance in Tulsa is the cultural event of the season.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Fleming found solace and inspiration while hiking near her Virginia home. The Voice of Nature: The Anthropocene concert is a natural extension of Fleming’s Grammy-winning 2021 album of the same name, which features an eclectic blend of classical art songs, world-premiere commissions from acclaimed modern composers like Kevin Puts and Nico Muhly, and even popular music, including a famous piece by Icelandic pop star Björk. Fleming customizes each concert’s repertoire, so Tulsa audiences will hear a unique program.
“This music begins in a time almost two centuries ago, when people had a profound connection to the beauty of nature,” Fleming remarks in her album notes. “Now, in the Anthropocene—the age of man—we see the effects of our own activity, and the fragility of our environment.”
Voice of Nature reflects Fleming’s passion for the connection between music and nature, but she is equally passionate about other types of associations, especially the powerful connection between the arts and health. Her 2024 book, Music and Mind, explores the intersection of music, health, and neuroscience. It is an inspired presentation of the same name designed for a general audience, which Tulsa Opera is presenting as an add-on experience to the concert. Fleming will moderate a conversation with distinguished panelists: University of Oklahoma’s Dr. Linda Barnum (Psychology), Songs By Heart’s Jenny Cook (Music Therapy), and Healthy Minds Policy Institute Zack Stoycoff (Advocacy) on May 9 from 12:00 – 2:30 p.m. at Founder’s Hall in the Schusterman Center at OU-Tulsa. The ticket price includes a signed copy of Fleming’s book, and there is an optional add-on boxed lunch. Full details for each Renée Fleming event are available on the Tulsa Opera website at TulsaOpera.com/Renee-Fleming.
“Tulsa Opera has established a legacy of artistic excellence over the past 77 years,” says Decter Wright. “We are beyond excited to offer our community access to a world-class artist of Renée Fleming’s caliber with this thrilling concert, a VIP reception experience for season subscribers, the Music and Mind book signing, and panel discussion.”
“It’s not an exaggeration to say that Renée Fleming’s performance in Tulsa is the cultural event of the season.”