JANET BAKER 

                                                                                               

BRAHMS: Lieder

 

O wußt ich doch den Weg züruck*

O kühler Wald*

Geheimnis*

Wir wandelten, wir zwei zusammen* Meerfahrt*

Ständchen Op.106 No.1*

Ein Wanderer*

Regenlied*

Das Mädchen*

Mädchenlied*

Mondnacht*

Auf dem Kirchofe*

Feldeinsamkeit**

Vergebliches Ständchen**

An die Nachtigall**

Meine

Liebe ist grün**

Herbstgefühl**

Sommerfäden**

Abendregen**

Verzagen**

Nachtwandler**

komm bald**

Der Tod, das ist der kühle Nacht**

Von ewiger Liebe†

 

Janet Baker

Ernest Lush*† / Paul Hamburger**

 

Recorded: BBC Studios, London, 16 September 1960* / 4 January 1968**/ 7 February 1961† (Experimental stereo)

 

Dame Janet Baker (1933-) was born in Hatfield, South Yorkshire and studied music in London in 1953 with Helene Isepp and Meriel St Clair. She has since enjoyed an extensive career both in lieder and operatic roles, especially in early Italian opera and the works of Benjamin Britten. As a concert performer, she was noted for her interpretations of Mahler and Elgar. Janet Baker was made a DBE in 1976 and became a Companion of Honour in 1994.

 

Janet Baker has been very well represented by BBC Legends with all her recordings achieving excellent reviews, including the prestiguous Diapason d'Or de l'Annee 2002 Award for Vocal Album of the Year for her Haydn, Schumann and Wolf recital (BBCL 4049-2).  Baker’s disc of Schubert songs (BBCL 4070-2) was a Gramophone Editors Choice in 2001 and was nominated for the Gramophone Historic Archive award in 2002.

 

This is the first complete recital of Brahms lieder by Janet Baker dating back to the early part of her career from 1960 through to 1968 when she was firmly established as one of the leading mezzos on the international scene.

 

She recorded "Das Mädchen", "An die Nachtigall" and "Von ewiger Liebe" in 1968 but she does not appear to have taped any other of the Brahms lieder. The 1961 recording of "Von ewiger Liebe" represents the BBC experiments in early stereo.

 

Janet Baker’s BBC Legends discs have always received excellent reviews;

 

“The interpretation of Schubert's Lieder comes no better than this..." (Gramophone BBCL40702)

"There can be no more golden a legend than Janet Baker singing English song..." (Gramophone BBCL41172)

 

Sampler: Brahms " O wußt ich doch den Weg züruck "

 

BBC Legends BBCL42002