An Evening With RENEE FLEMING And The Rhode Island Philharmonic To Play 1/21/12

World-renowned soprano RENÉE FLEMING will perform with the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra (RIPO), Larry Rachleff, Music Director and Conductor, at The VETS Gala Concert on Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 7:30 PM. Ms. Fleming's appearance at The VETS was announced this morning by Chairman of the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority (RICCA) David A. Duffy, Professional Facilities Management (PFM) President J.L. "Lynn" Singleton, and RIPO Executive Director David J. Beauchesne during a press conference in The VETS lobby. The Gala Concert is part of The VETS rededication after the completion of the first phase of building renovations at the Theatre. Tickets for AN EVENING WITH RENÉE FLEMING AND THE RHODE ISLAND PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA will go on sale this Saturday, May 7 at 10 AM at the PPAC/VETS Box Office, located at 220 Weybosset Street in downtown Providence; online at www.thevetsri.com and by phone at (401) 421 - ARTS (2787). Tickets are $250, $150, $100, $75, and $35; all ticket prices include a $2 per ticket facility fee and are subject to change without notice. Patrons who purchase the $250 tickets will attend a Champagne Reception prior to the concert and will have premium seating. All proceeds from the Gala Concert will support new artistic programming at The VETS and RIPO educational programs at the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra & Music School. AN EVENING WITH RENÉE FLEMING AND THE RHODE ISLAND PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA is made possible in part byThe Providence Journal,WJAR Channel 10, The Rhode Island Foundation, The TACO/The White Family Foundation, and The Carter Family Charitable Trust. The press conference at The VETS featured speakers RICCA Executive Director James McCarvill, PFM President J.L. "Lynn" Singleton, The Rhode Island Foundation President & CEO Neil Steinberg, and RIPO Executive Director David J. Beauchesne. RICCA Chairman David A. Duffy stated, "We are honored to welcome Ms. Fleming to The VETS at this very important time in the Theatre's history. During her impressive career, Ms. Fleming has headlined a number of distinguished events, including the Noble Peace Prize ceremony and the Metropolitan Opera's 125th Opening Night Gala. In the past two years, PFM has done an extraordinary job of reviving the Theatre and we are greatly appreciative of their efforts." RICCA Executive Director James McCarvill welcomed everyone in attendance and introduced PFM President J.L. "Lynn" Singleton. Singleton said, "Ms. Fleming is a luminary in the opera world and she has done a great deal of work to make opera accessible to all types of audiences. We are delighted to have her perform at The VETS rededication next January, since her appearance will bring renewed attention to The VETS." Steinberg represented the concert underwriters at the press conference. Steinberg said, "On behalf of The Providence Journal, WJAR Channel 10, The TACO/The White Family Foundation, The Carter Family Charitable Trust, and The Rhode Island Foundation, we are so proud to support Ms. Fleming's concert at The VETS. Ms. Fleming's appearance is an incredible opportunity and reaffirms the cultural importance and artistic vitality of The VETS. Her concert will once again make The VETS and Providence part of the world stage." Beauchesne, speaking on behalf of RIPO and RIPO's Music Director and the Gala Concert's Conductor Larry Rachleff, said, "We are thrilled to be a part of this phenomenal concert. Larry is honored to be working with Ms. Fleming again. He had the pleasure of performing with her a few seasons ago at Rice University's Shepherd School of Music in Houston. Along with RICCA, PFM, and our generous underwriters, we are dedicated to bringing the world's best artists to The VETS and reviving it as a center of our cultural community." Ms. Fleming said, "I'm thrilled to be making my first appearance with RIPO in Providence and meeting a new audience there. It will be my first-ever performance in Rhode Island! I had the pleasure of working with Larry Rachleff a few years ago in Houston, and I'm looking forward to sharing the stage with him once again for this Gala Concert." Known as "The People's Diva" (The London Times) and "The Beautiful Voice" (Washington Post), Ms. Fleming captivates audiences with her sumptuous voice, consummate artistry, and compelling stage presence. A three-time Grammy winner, Ms. Fleming won the 2010 Grammy Award for Best Classical Vocal Performance for Verismo (Decca/September 2009), a CD featuring a collection of rarely heard Italian arias. In June 2010, Decca and Mercury records released the CD Dark Hope, which features Ms. Fleming covering songs by indie-rock and pop artists. Recent DVD releases include Massenet's Thaïs and Rossini's Armida, both part of the Metropolitan Opera Live in HD series, and Verdi's Traviata, filmed at London's Royal Opera House. Ms. Fleming's 2010 DVD Renée Fleming & Dmitri Hvorostovsky: A Musical Odyssey in St. Petersburg follows Ms. Fleming and baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky to Russia, where they explore and perform in some of St. Petersburg's most historic locations. In recent years, this twelve-time Grammy nominated artist has recorded everything from Strauss's complete Daphne to the jazz album Haunted Heart to the movie soundtrack of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Her recording honors range from the 2009 Echo Award for Strauss's Four Last Songs to the Prix Maria Callas Orphée d'Or by the Académie du Disque Lyric for TDK's DVD production of Capriccio. Ms. Fleming is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of the Carnegie HallCorporation, the Board of Sing for Hope, and the Advisory Board of the White Nights Foundation of America. In 2010, she was named the first ever Creative Consultant at Lyric Opera of Chicago. Box Office Information The PPAC/VETS Box Office is located at 220 Weybosset Street in downtown Providence. Regular Box Office Hours are Monday through Friday, 10 AM to 5 PM and Saturday, 10 AM to 2 PM. The on-site VETS Box Office is open on performance days only; hours vary, please call (401) 421 - ARTS (2787) for specific times.