By Andrew Druckenbrod [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 12 September 2010]

Opera singers have never sung opera exclusively -- not in the art form's nascent years around 1600, nor in its heyday in the 19th century or its golden years around the middle of the past century. So it should be no surprise that Renee Fleming, the premier operatic soprano of the past few decades, is looking to step off the operatic stage more often.