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I'm not young and yet Janet Baker retired from opera right before I was born. Now, after my lifetime of classical music listening, some of her recordings are a constant presence in my life. I cannot count how many times her Abschied has made my dry eyes water. And everytime I see her Glyndebourne Dido, here on KZread, I think to myself again and again: "this is the most beautiful thing I will have ever heard and she is the most beautiful woman I will have ever seen". Watching these interviews makes me quite sad to be born when I was, to be born where I was, as, even though I will always have her soul shattering recordings, I will never have really met her, not then and not since then. And to think that many years ago I could've met her on a simple train ride, her reading her music, me worshipping her through adoring silence and too scared to meet her eyes. "If I never meet you in this life, let me feel the lack." - The Thin Red Line.

What a mutual admiration society. Nothing superficial about either of these great artists. They talked, but, more importantly, they listened to and understood each other. Such a rarity these days.

Dame Janet Baker is just so down to earth and natural. I love her interpretations, particularly Elgar. Thank goodness we have the recordings.

@marjoriebull4595

Жыл бұрын

I shall have a

Regarding the "easy access" to opera these days, I am one of these beginner appreciators who has so far only seen professional performances online. The Metropolitan Opera generously offering their shows for free each night in early 2020 has catapulted me into the audience of eager fans. I hope to make it to a live performance soon, after the theaters open up again. Some day!!

@mckavitt13

3 жыл бұрын

The Royal Opera did too. These streaming performances from the Met now cost, even tho' we are still trapped at home. Alas.

@karlavonhuben1381

3 жыл бұрын

@@mckavitt13 I'm happy to let you know you're mistaken. The Met opera streams are still free so enjoy! I'm not sure where you're logging in, but if you go to Metopera.org, you'll find the day's opera, plus lots of good stuff. Good luck!

@mckavitt13

3 жыл бұрын

@@karlavonhuben1381 You are right! I’ve been enjoying the privilege for quite some time, but forgot I’d written that mistaken viewpoint.

such richness of soul

Dame Janet Baker's facial expressions, looks, smile, mouth, eyes and facial structure is so close to my mother's that it brought me to tears..my mother has passed..she sang and whistled like a bird I welled up with emotions to see this lovely lady...as lovely in manner as was my mother...I could never hold a candle to my mother; nor could I sing as Dame Janet Baker or Joyce DiDonato...I can only listen and be in awe...my goodness, what wonderful instrument these women have...

@bmon3518

5 жыл бұрын

I know what you mean, in manner and looks she reminds me of my grandmother, who passed in 1987. A generation and style of person, an elegant, dignified, human kind of woman that has all but gone, but such a lovely window into it. Best wishes

@susandowney2243

5 жыл бұрын

@@bmon3518 Thank you for your reply...we have memories of the illuminating beauty of a woman that will always stay in our hearts...my mother, your grandmother..xx

After listening to this I have to give 2 very heartfelt, very enthusiastic thumbs up. Such a Great conversation.

Dame Janet Baker has a beautiful lyric mezzo soprano voice and is such a polished artiste. I love her refined English accent and how she has aged so nicely. I still have one of her vinyl records somewhere. Must dig it out and pour a glass of good aged red wine and have a listen.

This was so real...... I'm very moved...

Janet Baker is the most impressive mezzo on record! Such a spectacular event! Thanks a lot, ROH!

Lovely conversation with two lovely women blessed with wondrous voices

@mckavitt13

4 жыл бұрын

Jeff allbon Janet Baker is blessed w more than a beautiful voice (as is JDD), so much more than that. Her artistry will be remembered as will her natural humility.

What a privilege to see these two wonderful people getting to the heart of what opera is about. To talk so openly shows huge generosity and their warmth is inspirational. I feel blessed to have seen them both on the stage, so grateful to be alive when they were performing. I love and admire them.

I love how it's a full out discussion!...throwing questions back an forth instead of just one person throwing questions at the other. A great deal of wonderful insights !

Dame Janet is amazing!

You thrilled me Joyce Didonato xx

And Rwandan too we do love Opera! And we hope one day we will be able to have opportunities for coaching in opera singing

It is so rare to experience such generosity as these two great artists do not hesitate to share. Thank you.

You never stop learning with such great artists and wonderful human beings!

What a wonderful conversation. Thank you.

I am deeply thankful for every single words I heard here. Thank you, ladies, thank you people from the Royal Opera House, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

How beautiful...both of these ARTISTS !!!!

As a teacher and someone who loves to sing, I can't think of anything more inspirational than this conversation between you two. Thank you, ladies!

The mutual admiration between these two beautiful women will never fail to make me smile. 🙂

Joyce has always been one of my strongest role models for me. I can't wait to meet her again. I hope I do.

What an extraordinary conversation of value to ALL musicians regardless of genre.. I must say that Baker's Maria Stuart aria was out of this world magnificent. The phrasing, nuance, trills were boundlessly magical. Yes borne of magic, as she well flashed out in her comments. Brava to this Diva!

@stefanstamenic3640

5 жыл бұрын

Yes! Too DIVINE Janet Baker-Julius Caesar by George Frideric Handel

@mckavitt13

4 жыл бұрын

Shirley Kirsten Who is such a non-Diva in her attitude & behaviour.

Omg omg wow. Janet Baker is incredible.

I encountered Dame Janet a few times at university. Our professor was a friend and she appeared regularly in the opera productions. One opening night Janet was warming up in a practice room under the stage and her voice could be heard by the audience. I was assigned to go to the great lady and basically tell her to 'shut up'. Not an enviable task, but she took it very well.

@mckavitt13

3 жыл бұрын

Whereas I bet most members consider that an unforgettable experience.

Most inspiring, and I look forward to seeing the documentary "Full Circle" on the artistic life and performance legacy of Dame Janet Baker.

@mckavitt13

4 жыл бұрын

Nicholas Wing Thank you for informing us of this! Hadn’t yet heard of it.

@srg5405

4 жыл бұрын

Dame Janet also wrote a book titled ‘Full Circle’ which is an account of her last year as an opera singer. An enjoyable read!

What they were talking about in the end reminded me of a thought from the incredible soprano Ghena Dimitrova, who once said that "The opera is a temple, where you learn the philosophy of life". Amazing. Thank you to for allowing us be a part of this moment.

@patshaw51

7 жыл бұрын

Vesko Varbanov Ghena was a lovely, lovely person!! Gone far too early!

@Tkimba2

5 жыл бұрын

She was also 10 times superior to both them

I love this, thank you 🙏🏻

This was beyond amazing! What incredible women those two are...

Thank you for these conversation, I could listen to it ever and ever again too.

Absolutely wonderful interview.

Beautifully said! What a precious conversation!

Thank you very much. We hear a lot about the generation gap. This is the generation bridge and perfectly encapsulates the respect that great artists have for each other.

@lety4526

6 жыл бұрын

Barbara Northwood yes!! Beautiful to see

ohhhhhhhhhhhhh wow what a glorious voice she had THRILLING

Loved listening to this discussion -- thanks for uploading!

Wonderful interview and two wonderful ladies! 😊

Love the interview twi great singners

Dame janet baker est charmante. Une grande artiste, une grande chanteuse. Emotion de l 'entendre et la voir en video dans le role de dido's lament.. 🙏🙏🙏

Insightful Inspiration from Two Living Legends!

What a privilege to be part of "this generation" that allow us to connect with you in a way it would have been unimaginable before. Talking about shifting and freedom I recall the Great Regine Crespin in her latests performances singing Menotti´s "The Medium" at Teatro Colon, Buenos Aires with an almost broken voice far from the cristal clear refined voice or her early years, one of the most vibrant and extraordinary performances I was able to witness. Thank you so much for letting us participate in your Conversation. Greetings from Argentina

Very moving...

Che donne meravigliose; non sono riuscito a interrompere la visione fino alla fine

They reminded me of something so important . It isn't enough to practice and create everyday but to challenge oneself . To seek the deepest emotion , the deepest commitment not an escape but a Voyage . Im a pianist and composer but I watch, listen to DiDonato every chance I get ! How does one do all these things with temples and nose and the body ? How do they get to identify that part of their body/mechanisms to sing . Singing is really incredible ! Trained thinking pianists learn :torso ,back ,breathing , arm so much too in our bodies matters to make music rise out of our souls .

What an interesting and inspirational conversation between two artists I admire. Yes, Joyce talked a lot but I think Dame Janet wanted to listen. Love the Alice Coote impression--it was like she burst into the room!

@mckavitt13

3 жыл бұрын

Well, she certainly didn't want to babble.

Wow!

une pure merveille....!

Was not aware that Miss DiDonato had suffered through a vocal crisis, but it explains why I had never heard her sing opera until she was in her mid-30s.

MANO, QUE ENTREVISTA INCRÍVEL E INSPIRADORA!♡ BRASIL ADMIRA, MUITÍSSIMO, AMBAS 🇧🇷

This was amazing. I wonder if there will be more like this. It would be fun to have a singer today sit with such greats as Norman, Arroyo, Price and just talk.

@SweetMusic851

8 жыл бұрын

I agree! I hope that more of this happens!!! I was so sad when the hour ended because it's such a fruitful conversation!

So eine fantastische Dame, danke!

JDD on current director concepts: "If that's the future of your art form, it doesn't deserve to exist." Thank you for saying that Joyce! 👍👍

Dame Janet,well we all know her, and Joyce DiDonato,what a great,spunky girl and artist.Good viewing.

Have a look at Bruce Duffie's site and his interviews from Chicago - phenomenal volume of famous people being interviewed, albeit now typed up rather than KZread. But the information is there, and invaluable.

Joyce, you do touch a lot of people's heart and made a change to the world. I am glad you chose to be an artist and vocal about your belief and political point of view

The best signers of Bellini’s Remo in 1970 and 2010 generation

Thank you, KZread 🙌

Dame Janet Baker is a legend and it is a joy to hear her speak. Joyce DiDonato I find slightly annoying.

Inspiring for ANY voice part.

I wish DiDonato had talked less and Dame Janet had talked more. But rather wonderful even so.

A great a True mezzo Soprano. Dame Janet Baker 👑 VIVA Dame Baker. Arnold Bourbon Amaral

Baker, who must have been in her mid-seventies at this time, looks more beautiful than she ever did earlier in.

@Suz71bu

7 жыл бұрын

She is 83.

@helgeevju

6 жыл бұрын

She reminds me of another great British lady: Wendy Hiller.

@mckavitt13

3 жыл бұрын

Oh, she was very beautiful in her 30s & 40s. Believe me.

@mckavitt13

3 жыл бұрын

@@helgeevju I saw Wendy Hiller onstage the year before she died & visited her backstage just to tell her of my admiration of her performance & many fine films. She stood staight as an arrow.

I would love to hear the critique for Joyce regarding Dimash S.O.S. and her thought regarding his support in breath and techniques.

best best best

I want to be an opera singer

Esta analogia con el "vidrio" , no un espejo, parece arropar la verdadera imagen y responsabilidad de un artista.. Mantener ese vidrio limpio...una idea espectacular. Gracias

🎉🎉❤❤😊😊 utube JOHN BAVAS ΤΟ ΧΡΥΣΌΨΑΡΟ

Janet est la meilleure que celle la jeune fille

this is important 13:59

I adore Joyce! But she talks a bit much in they interview. In any case, it is wonderful to see them both.

@paradiddleday

6 жыл бұрын

Be Clear Yes, but Dame Janet is not an easy interview:) When she opens up a bit, Joyce backs off.

21:00

Is it just me, or does Joyce di Donato even look physically like she is related to Dame Janet Baker?

Dame Janet was the supreme vocal artist of her time. I was privileged to hear many of her live performances in the 1970s and 1980s and cannot think of another singer who came closer to perfection than she. Miss DiDonato, while competent and occasionally excellent, does not come close to Dame Janet’s quality and consistency.

Does Janet Baker give Masterclasses? Does she still give interviews? What brought her to the world of opera? We hear nothing about these things, only about the same events in the life of Joyce Di Donato. Why this one-sidedness?

@srg5405

4 жыл бұрын

Dame Janet does not give Masterclasses in public but does give guidance to young established singers on ‘roles’ they are involved in. She feels that some Masterclasses can be in danger of ending up as more about the teacher than the student. There are a number of interviews with Dame Janet on KZread which cover her career at various times. One with Simon Cowell another with Norbert Meyn which was about the refugees from Nazi Germany in the late 1930’s, has on her career and life

@srg5405

4 жыл бұрын

Correction! Interview with Simon Callow!

@mckavitt13

4 жыл бұрын

@@srg5405 Aha! As did Victoria de los Angeles. Thank you.

@mckavitt13

3 жыл бұрын

@@srg5405 In fact I know these things, but most of the public probably does not. What you say about the reasons why Baker does not give Master classes is precisely my point. Ofc DiDonato is still v much on scene & can profit from public appearance, Baker more in retirement & persuaded to be here just to be nice, I suspect.

@roseandresier3797

3 ай бұрын

17:55 18:06 ​@@mckavitt13

Pretentiousness at its worst

I love Joyce but this is some weird pretentious sh*t.

the 2 of them share NOTHING in common. A consumate artist and a ?????

Apart from the sheer pretentiousness of what Ms DiDonato says, vocally, she cannot hold a candle to Dame Janet. I am not surprised she had a "vocal crisis"; she has always had poor technique compared to her illustrious predecessor. I have heard both live - Dame Janet many times in her prime and JDD only once at Covent Garden and I was bored stiff by her singing: she has a small, tremolo-ridden voice with poor lower-register development and an incorrect vibrato. Dame Janet was a Titan compared to her. The worst thing is that JDD gives master-classes in which she pushes he own poor technique on learners. If she is indeed "the greatest mezzo-soprano of [her generation]" we are in trouble.