Renowned opera soprano Renée Fleming and master banjoist Béla Fleck possess an intuitive ability to dwell deeply in the notes, chords, and lyrics of the songs they have selected for their new collaborative album ‘The Fiddle and the Drum.’ Each musician recognizes the enduring emotional power of music and the many ways it shapes our experiences, with individual songs serving as touchstones of distant memories of personal turmoil or social disruption. While the two first discussed making an album together several years ago, they were finally able to meet in 2023 to launch this project. On ‘The Fiddle and the Drum,’ the duo is joined by a host of special guests, including Dolly Parton, Aoife O’Donovan, Vince Gill, Jerry Douglas, Sierra Hull, and Sarah Jarosz, who share vocals, sing harmony, or add special musical touches to the 10 songs drawn from traditional ballads and folk songs.
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