The mezzo-soprano Dame Janet Baker on Benjamin Britten as composer, conductor and pianist. Just one of the Britten fans celebrating the composer's centenary at www.britten100.org.
Dame Janet is WONDERFUL...and apparently Benjamin Britten thought so too as he wrote a couple pieces of music especially FOR her. And, no, she says, she did not request that to be done. I love listening to her voice and think it has great theraputic value to me. Thanks you so much for including this interview!
Anyone who knows about singing recognizes Janet Baker as one of the finest female singers of the mid 20th c. and most probably among the very finest of any era.
I have never quite understood why Brittens incredibly brilliant violin concerto isn't played more often by todays 'great' virtuoso's.Perhaps they are a little afraid of it.
Ben wrote his cello concerto for Rostropovich but had to tweak it as Mstislav said it was too difficult. This applies to a lot of his music where the apparent simplicity hides a lot. But regardless of the difficulty, he is always satisfying to sing which makes him one of the two truly great choral composers .. with Handel.
I am sure that Dame Janet Baker means well, but it is kind of sad that even in her praise of Britten and the Britten-Pears-partnership, and even in wanting to express what 'difficulties' this couple had to go through, she still does not articulate what she is talking about. Brits still talking hush-hush about homosexual relationships keep on expressing the ridiculous idea that this is something shameful, something to 'keep private' about, something deviating from normality. Dame Janet Baker is a child of her time, of course, so I'll gladly forgive her. But the newest generation should learn from the mistakes of the elder generation. So here you have it.
You are right English people particularly of a certain age and level of culture use a lot of euphemisms or only' allude to' when discussing sexuality, but that goes for when discussing heterosexuality as well as homosexuality . Its the whole of sexuality which is considered part of a person's private life particularly when discussing close friends / acquaintances as here. However I don't think Dame Janet needs ' forgiveness' as she is speaking about Britten and Pears with great empathy and in context. They lived at a time when their homosexuality and relationship would have been against the law - fear of discovery would have been a frightening thing with consequences. Surely that is what she is expressing.
I find her assumption that her listeners will understand exactly what she is speaking about a very beautiful acceptance of life as it presents itself, both then and now.
She's classy, beautiful and enormously moving.
I have loved her singing for three decades. Now I think I just love her, for what she has said about Benjamin Britten's life with Peter Pears.
Dame Janet is WONDERFUL...and apparently Benjamin Britten thought so too as he wrote a couple pieces of music especially FOR her. And, no, she says, she did not request that to be done. I love listening to her voice and think it has great theraputic value to me. Thanks you so much for including this interview!
What a grand Lady and truly great singer she really Is!
Dame Baker was an inspiration to me as a young singer. No one has sung with such freedom and beauty.
Ms Baker has been blessed with probably the finest voice ever.How very fortunate.My favorite of her songs is Who is Sylvia.
Willie get over yourself.Eckerslike alright.
Anyone who knows about singing recognizes Janet Baker as one of the finest female singers of the mid 20th c. and most probably among the very finest of any era.
The epitome of greatness.
Intelligent, revealing & relevant. Thx so much!
Janet singing Corpus Christi carol is the most beautiful piece of music I have ever heard .
I agree absolutely with your wonderful comment - so well put!
I adore Ben's Violin Concerto, especially Ida Haendal's remarkable recording of it with the Bournemouth Symphony orchestra.
I have never quite understood why Brittens incredibly brilliant violin concerto isn't played more often by todays 'great' virtuoso's.Perhaps they are a little afraid of it.
Ben wrote his cello concerto for Rostropovich but had to tweak it as Mstislav said it was too difficult. This applies to a lot of his music where the apparent simplicity hides a lot. But regardless of the difficulty, he is always satisfying to sing which makes him one of the two truly great choral composers .. with Handel.
Owen Wingrave has some genius music in it
shame britten didn't write more for piano
I am sure that Dame Janet Baker means well, but it is kind of sad that even in her praise of Britten and the Britten-Pears-partnership, and even in wanting to express what 'difficulties' this couple had to go through, she still does not articulate what she is talking about.
Brits still talking hush-hush about homosexual relationships keep on expressing the ridiculous idea that this is something shameful, something to 'keep private' about, something deviating from normality.
Dame Janet Baker is a child of her time, of course, so I'll gladly forgive her. But the newest generation should learn from the mistakes of the elder generation. So here you have it.
You are right English people particularly of a certain age and level of culture use a lot of euphemisms or only' allude to' when discussing sexuality, but that goes for when discussing heterosexuality as well as homosexuality . Its the whole of sexuality which is considered part of a person's private life particularly when discussing close friends / acquaintances as here.
However I don't think Dame Janet needs ' forgiveness' as she is speaking about Britten and Pears with great empathy and in context. They lived at a time when their homosexuality and relationship would have been against the law - fear of discovery would have been a frightening thing with consequences. Surely that is what she is expressing.
I am sure that she will be relieved to know that you forgive her.
I find her assumption that her listeners will understand exactly what she is speaking about a very beautiful acceptance of life as it presents itself, both then and now.
@@johnkeene8460 She speaks with great empathy she's not trying to be coy I don't think. She speaks movingly.
@@barneswriter I agree completely.