I was fortunate to have heard and seen Janet Baker in grad school at the Kennedy Center. I remember her back being arched over the piano. She sang with full intensity and gusto. Unforgettable and thrilling in Schubert, Beethoven and Berlioz.
Listened to a performance of Mahler's 2nd Symphony with her singing the mezzo solos just last week. There have been some great mezzos in the past 100 years (Horne, Barbieri, Cossotto, Berganza, Baltsa, Gorr) and I'd put Baker near the top of that company. There seemed to be nothing she could not sing.
Choose not to live without revisiting Dame Janet’s recordings again and again for new, one might call it, metaphysical as well as musical insight and enrichment.
I was fortunate to have heard and seen Janet Baker in grad school at the Kennedy Center. I remember her back being arched over the piano. She sang with full intensity and gusto. Unforgettable and thrilling in Schubert, Beethoven and Berlioz.
She set an artistic standard for all mezzos, frankly all singers, to follow. Thank you for featuring this incredible artist.
Listened to a performance of Mahler's 2nd Symphony with her singing the mezzo solos just last week. There have been some great mezzos in the past 100 years (Horne, Barbieri, Cossotto, Berganza, Baltsa, Gorr) and I'd put Baker near the top of that company. There seemed to be nothing she could not sing.
Choose not to live without revisiting Dame Janet’s recordings again and again for new, one might call it, metaphysical as well as musical insight and enrichment.