So pleased to hear you enthusiastically speaking about Dame Janet's recordings with your apt comments as always. She actually sang a lot of opera , but in the UK. She did sing extensively all over the world , but in recital and concerts with symphony orchestras. I think her only opera appearences outside the UK were Dido & Aeneas at Aix En Provence ( Scottish Opera Tour) and Vitellia at La Scala ( Covent Garden tour.) Incidentally so thoroughly was she immersed in the role of wicked Kate Julian in Owen Wingrave ( which as you would know transferred from the TV to the Opera House) that she received hate mail. Some opera fans are truly unhinged! 🥴 She was a fine actress as well as a great singer. I saw her onstage twice when I was in my teens- Handel's Julius Caesar and Gluck's Alceste ( in which she was stunning.) Worthwhile looking for the Glyndebourne DVDs La Calisto by Cavalli , Penelope in Ulysses by Monteverdi.
Another fabulous review thank you. It was great to have the reminder that when I was at school (around 16/17 years old) I wrote an essay for my Higher Music exam on the influence oriental music had on Debussy and Ravel. I've had a place in my heart for their music ever since.
Thank you for fixing and extending the truncated version of this instalment! I wonder who would quibble with your eager and enthusiastic appreciation of Baker's Universal output (which it of course wasn't back then)? I not, for one! When you rhetorically ask, "if there is anyone in the universe who is as reliable as an artist, as she [Baker] was, more devoted to her craft and who could be counted on to always be at her best?", actually, her German-austrian mezzo-colleague, Christa Ludwig, immediately leaps to mind. The timbres of their voices differ, they both have their own distinctive sound, but their devoted seriousness in their approach to their art equals. Ludwig might have felt a bit more at home on the stage and hence her operatic repertoire seems wider than Baker's, who on her side demonstrated an impressive width in her song/Lieder-repertoire (from arie antiche over songs and lieder from the French, German, British traditions to more modern, i.e 20th century, stuff). Remarkably, that both did Mahler so well, each in collaboration with a conductor of equal stature: Baker/Barbirolli, Ludwig/Klemperer - and both, thoroughly heart rendering in Bach. The Italian tenor Lauri-Volpi coined the concept of 'Voci parallele' (parallel voices); with Baker and Ludwig one somewhat senses to be more in the realm of 'Anime parallele' (twin souls). Two exceptional, outstanding singers, musicians, artists - both what the Germans would call 'Ausnahme-Sängerinnen'!
For me, Janet Baker remains the best interpret ever of beautiful Handel's arias such as "Ombra mai fu" or "Dove sei amato bene". To my point of view, that is enough for her eternal glory !
Or her zest and gusto in something like "Dopo notte" with Leppard. Thrilling. More so in a Handel recital album on Philips than the complete recording.
There's something special about Janet Baker. Some of my favorite recordings are on other labels, including Sea Pictures on EMI, and her other work with Barbirolli, especially Kindertotenlieder and Rückert Lieder, a gorgeous album of Respighi with Hickox, her Alto Rhapsody with Boult, and so much more. I have her EMI compilation, The Very Best of Janet Baker, only two discs. Somehow I missed most of her work on Decca, so I'll have to check this out.
Her first Handel Dopo Notte from Ariodante from 1971 under Leppard is one of the great Handel recordings. By the time she recorded the opera complete the tone had loosened a bit. Her early Purcell Dido is also magnificent.
Have you come across the English National Opera recording of Mary Stuart conducted by Charles Mackerras where Janet Baker sings the role of Mary Stuart? 5:24 . It seems to me an exceptionally good performance of a Donizetti opera ( even though it is sung in Engĺish).
David, I notice the booklet is quite thick. Does it have numerous essays on Janet? I assume no librettos/translations -- a shame. I wish record companies would consider re-releasing the texts with these box sets. Would really help the listener!
So pleased to hear you enthusiastically speaking about Dame Janet's recordings with your apt comments as always. She actually sang a lot of opera , but in the UK. She did sing extensively all over the world , but in recital and concerts with symphony orchestras. I think her only opera appearences outside the UK were Dido & Aeneas at Aix En Provence ( Scottish Opera Tour) and Vitellia at La Scala ( Covent Garden tour.) Incidentally so thoroughly was she immersed in the role of wicked Kate Julian in Owen Wingrave ( which as you would know transferred from the TV to the Opera House) that she received hate mail. Some opera fans are truly unhinged! 🥴 She was a fine actress as well as a great singer. I saw her onstage twice when I was in my teens- Handel's Julius Caesar and Gluck's Alceste ( in which she was stunning.) Worthwhile looking for the Glyndebourne DVDs La Calisto by Cavalli , Penelope in Ulysses by Monteverdi.
Thank you for pointing this out; I was about to write a similar comment myself!
Dave, Thanks for fixing this video. What was cut off yesterday was important and enlightening. Thanks for taking the time to put it back.
Very welcome!
Another fabulous review thank you. It was great to have the reminder that when I was at school (around 16/17 years old) I wrote an essay for my Higher Music exam on the influence oriental music had on Debussy and Ravel. I've had a place in my heart for their music ever since.
Happy 90th birthday, Dame Janet, August 21, 2023.
You had me at "Sea Pictures."
Thank you for fixing and extending the truncated version of this instalment! I wonder who would quibble with your eager and enthusiastic appreciation of Baker's Universal output (which it of course wasn't back then)? I not, for one!
When you rhetorically ask, "if there is anyone in the universe who is as reliable as an artist, as she [Baker] was, more devoted to her craft and who could be counted on to always be at her best?", actually, her German-austrian mezzo-colleague, Christa Ludwig, immediately leaps to mind. The timbres of their voices differ, they both have their own distinctive sound, but their devoted seriousness in their approach to their art equals. Ludwig might have felt a bit more at home on the stage and hence her operatic repertoire seems wider than Baker's, who on her side demonstrated an impressive width in her song/Lieder-repertoire (from arie antiche over songs and lieder from the French, German, British traditions to more modern, i.e 20th century, stuff). Remarkably, that both did Mahler so well, each in collaboration with a conductor of equal stature: Baker/Barbirolli, Ludwig/Klemperer - and both, thoroughly heart rendering in Bach.
The Italian tenor Lauri-Volpi coined the concept of 'Voci parallele' (parallel voices); with Baker and Ludwig one somewhat senses to be more in the realm of 'Anime parallele' (twin souls). Two exceptional, outstanding singers, musicians, artists - both what the Germans would call 'Ausnahme-Sängerinnen'!
For me, Janet Baker remains the best interpret ever of beautiful Handel's arias such as "Ombra mai fu" or "Dove sei amato bene". To my point of view, that is enough for her eternal glory !
Or her zest and gusto in something like "Dopo notte" with Leppard. Thrilling. More so in a Handel recital album on Philips than the complete recording.
Love you Dave!! And Dame Janet was a wonderful singer and she's a quality person!!
There's something special about Janet Baker. Some of my favorite recordings are on other labels, including Sea Pictures on EMI, and her other work with Barbirolli, especially Kindertotenlieder and Rückert Lieder, a gorgeous album of Respighi with Hickox, her Alto Rhapsody with Boult, and so much more. I have her EMI compilation, The Very Best of Janet Baker, only two discs. Somehow I missed most of her work on Decca, so I'll have to check this out.
Her first Handel Dopo Notte from Ariodante from 1971 under Leppard is one of the great Handel recordings. By the time she recorded the opera complete the tone had loosened a bit. Her early Purcell Dido is also magnificent.
Her Schubert is breathtaking.
Have you come across the English National Opera recording of Mary Stuart conducted by Charles Mackerras where Janet Baker sings the role of Mary Stuart? 5:24 . It seems to me an exceptionally good performance of a Donizetti opera ( even though it is sung in Engĺish).
It is a very fine performance.
David, I notice the booklet is quite thick. Does it have numerous essays on Janet? I assume no librettos/translations -- a shame. I wish record companies would consider re-releasing the texts with these box sets. Would really help the listener!
A great artist, a wonderful musician indeed. Maybe the Hyperion stuff appears here because of its (Hyperion's) acquisition by Universal?
I said that in the video description.
@@DavesClassicalGuide Oh my... I missed that. Sorry.