I cannot help but envying (in a good way) the beautiful way in which Dame Baker has aged: she's still so eloquent, so aware. That is beautiful to see. It was when she said that "doing what you're feeling you're born to do is a joy", that she struck so important a chord. It is such a difficult thing to achieve.
This is one of the greatest interviews I've ever witnessed. I'm so relieved to know that Dame Janet is happy in her retirement. I think all of us who love her wants to know that.
In my lifetime of 61 years, Dame Janet Baker was the greatest singing actress I have ever seen on any stage, theater or opera. She could stand on a stage in front of a piano and create an entire character without moving. All through her musicality and her voice alone. A great great great artist!
It was Dame Janet's performance as Octavian in Scottish Opera's production of Der Rosenkavalier circa 1970 that turned me on to opera. I was only 16 but I remember it as one of the most life defining evenings of my life. It is such a pity that she never recorded it, especially with the original cast of Dame Janet, Helga Dernesch and Elizabeth Harwood. I feel deeply privileged to have seen her in nearly all the operatic roles that she sang in her great career. Thank you, Dame Janet, for sharing your sublime gift with us and for providing such rich food for body, mind and soul.
A live recording of this Rosenkavalier is available from Oriel Music Trust (Google for details). They also have other recordings of Dame Janet including several Handel operas, a Scottish Trojans, Cosi, Tito, Monteverdi's Ulisse, Oedipus Rex and La Gazza Ladra. Happy hunting!!
As a young singer I crave and cherish these interviews. I drink the information in because there is no way a soprano from Australia still in undergraduate would ever be so fortunate to speak with a great as Dame Janet. Thanks so much Joyce for bridging the gap for us.
Janet Baker is such an eloquent lady. Just discovering her recently. Where have I been?! Also love the fact she still has her Yorkshire accent and bowed out at her peak. A class act.
An amazing, enduring artist. I'm glad that a young generation still gets the opportunity to hear and learn from her high level of musicianship and respect for her art form.
I just wanted to say, thank you both so much. I am just a choral singer, but have been transformed by listening to both of you! I feel blessed. Thank you for Messiah JB, and thank you so much for your baroque queen JD. I now feel I can sing without fear, open my mouth and let my feelings out, not just the notes. What a difference! I can sing my heart out now, and enjoy the whole of the music that is in my life.
What an absolutely remarkable personality...a personality to match the voice. I cannot believe how humble and down to Earth this woman is...she has SUCH a huge passion for music...she speaks like music like she has just discovered it. Full of vitality...
A tremendous artist; intelligent and intricate. I would love to sit down and talk with her... More so about her actual voice itself; the sound and her technique. Mrs. Baker had a "ringing clarity" that hit you over the head the first time you heard her. This bell like, powerful yet delicate voice of course, was, to some extent, blessed on her. These areas of her career and singing life I would love to have seen explored a bit more in depth.
What an intelligent woman. She puts words so easily together without wanting to sound too intellectual was what captivated me throughout the whole interview. Especially what she said about not been you or been famous but what you do as a musician to get through to people. Loved this interview. Brava Miss Baker!
Great hearing Janet Baker in conversation - I was fortunate to hear her in Elgar's "Dream of Gerontius" a role for which she was justly considered incomparable and also in Donizetti's "Maria Stuarda" in a production of a standard almost impossible to emulate today. I was quite young on both occasions but the memories have always remained with me, such was the strong impression at the time. A true legend for sure.
I can still remember when I heard Dame Janet Baker in Berlioz's Les Nuits d´Été at the Royal Festival Hall. It was pure magic. When she finished Le Spectre de la Rose, she was so moved that she had to pause for a while before singing the next song. The audience was sheer silent, in a sort of communion with her. As a Brazilian, the only thing I regret about her is that she never performed in my country! But unlike most of my countrymen, I was lucky enough to hear her in a live performance. God bless her!
OMG Dame Janet Baker is an angel! what a beautiful thing to watch! I love her since always and now I know why! she's a beautiful person and that's something you can see in her interpretations! Thanks to you Joyce for this interview
I had the enormous privilege of hearing Dame Janet live on a number of occasions - mainly in Mahler and Elgar. There is something about her voice or the way she interprets the music which always moved me. The final Ewig from Das Lied shimmered away into silence. There were moments of complete silence while we in the audience returned to earth and then tumultuous applause.
I learn so much more from videos like this one than I ever did in schools or from music appreciation or review books, or especially from "musicologists", whatever kinds of insects those are. Thank you so much, TheYankeediva, for providing real music lovers with real nourishment.
Dame Janet was the first "real" singer that I ever heard. Our local "classical" radio station played her recording of Mahler's "Kinder Toten Lieder." I couldn't believe the depth that I was feeling.
How beautifully Dame Janet has aged and what an incredibly Intelligent woman.. I dont think I have heard such intelligence from another operatic singer other than Maria Callas and perhaps E Schwarzkopf.. If singers like Baker were singing Donizetti, he would be considered the Genius that he was and not the silly composer for canary birds that ridiculous coloraturas have diminished him to.. her Stuarda had not only the biggest Heart but also musical lines coming directly from Baker's musicianship that we never heard from any other Stuarda (and who cared that there was no coloratura exhibition)
Ein wunderbares Interview. Beide heben sehr viel Gemeinsames, Dame Janet ist so wunderbar im Gespräch wie sie auf der Bühne war.
Gran entrevisra! Joyce es muy respetuosa y acertada como entrevistadora. Dame Janet....ufff, una dama elegante y sabia. Gracias.❤❤
I cannot help but envying (in a good way) the beautiful way in which Dame Baker has aged: she's still so eloquent, so aware. That is beautiful to see.
It was when she said that "doing what you're feeling you're born to do is a joy", that she struck so important a chord. It is such a difficult thing to achieve.
Brilliant interview with two profound and serious, and at the same time, sensitive and authentic women. Thanks for sharing your passion and your gift!
This is one of the greatest interviews I've ever witnessed. I'm so relieved to know that Dame Janet is happy in her retirement. I think all of us who love her wants to know that.
Fascinating! She really covered a lot of territory in her career - Donizetti, Handel, Bellini, Mendelssohn, Britten, so many others.
In my lifetime of 61 years, Dame Janet Baker was the greatest singing actress I have ever seen on any stage, theater or opera. She could stand on a stage in front of a piano and create an entire character without moving. All through her musicality and her voice alone. A great great great artist!
It was Dame Janet's performance as Octavian in Scottish Opera's production of Der Rosenkavalier circa 1970 that turned me on to opera. I was only 16 but I remember it as one of the most life defining evenings of my life. It is such a pity that she never recorded it, especially with the original cast of Dame Janet, Helga Dernesch and Elizabeth Harwood. I feel deeply privileged to have seen her in nearly all the operatic roles that she sang in her great career. Thank you, Dame Janet, for sharing your sublime gift with us and for providing such rich food for body, mind and soul.
A live recording of this Rosenkavalier is available from Oriel Music Trust (Google for details). They also have other recordings of Dame Janet including several Handel operas, a Scottish Trojans, Cosi, Tito, Monteverdi's Ulisse, Oedipus Rex and La Gazza Ladra. Happy hunting!!
It was issued on Ponto along with her Ariadne Composer. It was still on Amazon last time I looked.
As a young singer I crave and cherish these interviews. I drink the information in because there is no way a soprano from Australia still in undergraduate would ever be so fortunate to speak with a great as Dame Janet. Thanks so much Joyce for bridging the gap for us.
How great to hear these two wonderful artists speak about the truths of the art form and their personal experience.Such dignity and beauty. Thank you.
Happy 90th Birthday, Dame Janet Baker! 🎉 🎂 🎈
Janet Baker is such an eloquent lady. Just discovering her recently. Where have I been?! Also love the fact she still has her Yorkshire accent and bowed out at her peak. A class act.
An amazing, enduring artist. I'm glad that a young generation still gets the opportunity to hear and learn from her high level of musicianship and respect for her art form.
Two great singers, genuinely in awe of each other! Wonderful.
I just wanted to say, thank you both so much. I am just a choral singer, but have been transformed by listening to both of you! I feel blessed. Thank you for Messiah JB, and thank you so much for your baroque queen JD. I now feel I can sing without fear, open my mouth and let my feelings out, not just the notes. What a difference! I can sing my heart out now, and enjoy the whole of the music that is in my life.
What an absolutely remarkable personality...a personality to match the voice. I cannot believe how humble and down to Earth this woman is...she has SUCH a huge passion for music...she speaks like music like she has just discovered it. Full of vitality...
A tremendous artist; intelligent and intricate. I would love to sit down and talk with her... More so about her actual voice itself; the sound and her technique. Mrs. Baker had a "ringing clarity" that hit you over the head the first time you heard her. This bell like, powerful yet delicate voice of course, was, to some extent, blessed on her. These areas of her career and singing life I would love to have seen explored a bit more in depth.
GreatPerformers1 She did a great talk at the Wigmore Hall with Simon Callow. You can probably find this on TH-cam or the Wigmore’s own website.
Two gracious ladies.
BRAVA DAME JANET! Such understated grace and modesty...so very rare in singers today.
"I have no regrets..."
Hail Dame Janet Baker.
And the response from you.....so sweet.
This is amazing material Joyce.
Beautiful from Heart to Heart.
Very inspiring interview. Dame Baker is so positive and genuinely grateful for her good fortunes in life - something I hope to practice more.
What light in Dame Janet's eyes!
Mrs. Janet Baker, what a beautiful person. This passion for music is missing in mainstream music.
What an intelligent woman. She puts words so easily together without wanting to sound too intellectual was what captivated me throughout the whole interview. Especially what she said about not been you or been famous but what you do as a musician to get through to people. Loved this interview. Brava Miss Baker!
Great hearing Janet Baker in conversation - I was fortunate to hear her in Elgar's "Dream of Gerontius" a role for which she was justly considered incomparable and also in Donizetti's "Maria Stuarda" in a production of a standard almost impossible to emulate today. I was quite young on both occasions but the memories have always remained with me, such was the strong impression at the time. A true legend for sure.
This is great!! Love Dame Janet!
I can still remember when I heard Dame Janet Baker in Berlioz's Les Nuits d´Été at the Royal Festival Hall. It was pure magic. When she finished Le Spectre de la Rose, she was so moved that she had to pause for a while before singing the next song. The audience was sheer silent, in a sort of communion with her. As a Brazilian, the only thing I regret about her is that she never performed in my country! But unlike most of my countrymen, I was lucky enough to hear her in a live performance. God bless her!
OMG Dame Janet Baker is an angel! what a beautiful thing to watch! I love her since always and now I know why! she's a beautiful person and that's something you can see in her interpretations! Thanks to you Joyce for this interview
two of my favorite singers of all time
What a wonderful gift is this conversation! Thank you thank you both!!
Wow she is amazing. I wish I could sing. It truly is a gift. You both are wonderful women and artists. Just wow!!!!! :)
The Dame is just brilliant in all that she says! :)
I had the enormous privilege of hearing Dame Janet live on a number of occasions - mainly in Mahler and Elgar. There is something about her voice or the way she interprets the music which always moved me. The final Ewig from Das Lied shimmered away into silence. There were moments of complete silence while we in the audience returned to earth and then tumultuous applause.
Thank you so very much for sharing this interview with your fans Joyce! It was greatly appreciated! :)
Thank you both great ladies for such sincere and personal words!
I learn so much more from videos like this one than I ever did in schools or from music appreciation or review books, or especially from "musicologists", whatever kinds of insects those are. Thank you so much, TheYankeediva, for providing real music lovers with real nourishment.
A wonderful and inspirational interview. A joy to listen to!!!
THANK YOU, Joyce! The end of this is JUST the thing.
Thanks so much for sharing this delightful and informative interview.
What a wonderful and rare treat! This is brilliant!
A wonderful dialogue, thanks so much for sharing this!!
What a lovely interview....so full of great insights!
Beautiful interview. Dame Janet Baker UN MITO
Dame Janet was the first "real" singer that I ever heard. Our local "classical" radio station played her recording of Mahler's "Kinder Toten Lieder." I couldn't believe the depth that I was feeling.
Inspiring and a wonderful interview to listen to, thank you very much.
what a wonderful interview!
What an amazing lady. And I have seen her live!
I always felt that Dame Janet Baker sings the best version of Kindertotenlieder by Mahler.
Beautiful interview...
Fantastic!! So honest, and SO inspiring. Much love ^_^
So enjoyed this! Thank you!
Thank you!
How beautifully Dame Janet has aged and what an incredibly Intelligent woman.. I dont think I have heard such intelligence from another operatic singer other than Maria Callas and perhaps E Schwarzkopf.. If singers like Baker were singing Donizetti, he would be considered the Genius that he was and not the silly composer for canary birds that ridiculous coloraturas have diminished him to.. her Stuarda had not only the biggest Heart but also musical lines coming directly from Baker's musicianship that we never heard from any other Stuarda (and who cared that there was no coloratura exhibition)
Love your coat/blouse, Joyce! Great interview!
Wonderful interview.
Love, love! x
How wonderful.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo Joyce and Janet
Love her
The last 10 minutes were very moving x
A-ma-zing!!!
With Christa Ludwig the best mezzo of the 20th century
This was made in May of 2013.
What a shame the second camera couldn't have also been on a tripod
Forgive my ignorance, but can someone identify the beautiful opening song?
I believe it is Schubert, An die Musik, D.547
Hello, i like her very match.das ennybody know where is she teaching?
What a great interview!