It seems that there is no limit to the breadth of Renée Fleming's stylistic range. During the course of a remarkable career, this extraordinary soprano has shown herself to be adept in the works of Mozart, Strauss, Massenet, and Handel, among others, as well as 20th-century repertoire. Brilliant albums such as NIGHT SONGS, I WANT MAGIC!, and THE BEAUTIFUL VOICE demonstrate her determination to move beyond the boundaries of standard operatic fare. For this disc, Fleming turns her attention to bel canto, a style with little representation in her discography but one that has special significance for her. Success and acclaim came early in her career as a result of breakthrough performances in the works of composers such as Rossini and Donizetti, and the bel canto style has always represented for her the culmination of all the elements of great singing. It's music that's tailor-made for true prima donnas, demanding mastery of technique and expression, and Fleming shows that she's more than up to the challenge. She flawlessly dispatches the technical demands of these works and wrings every drop of drama, pathos, and lyricism available in them. BEL CANTO leaves no doubt as to why Fleming has earned her place among the great divas of all time.