Dame Janet Baker

Dame Janet Baker 1933-, English mezzo-soprano. She made her singing debut in 1956 with the Glyndebourne Chorus. In 1966 she made her American debut at Town Hall in New York City, winning critical acclaim for the sensitivity, style, and intelligence of her singing. Baker was for many years regarded as primarily an oratorio and lieder singer. However, in 1962 she took the lead role in Purcell's Dido and Aeneas and then began a long association with the operas of Benjamin Britten. In 1969 she made a triumphal appearance as Dido in the Scottish Opera's production of Berlioz's The Trojans, repeating her performance at Covent Garden in London. Later she took leading roles in operas by Monteverdi and Cavalli. She retired in 1982. In 1991 she became chancellor of the Univ. of York, England.

Baker, Dame Janet Abbott (1933– ) English mezzo-soprano. She was renowned as a singer of Lieder, oratorio and opera. Well known at the Royal Opera House (Covent Garden), Sadler's Wells and Glyndebourne, she is particularly admired for her interpretations of Mahler's song cycles.

Baker, (Dame) Janet (Abbott) (b Hatfield, Doncaster, 1933). Eng. mezzo-soprano. Sang in Leeds Phil. Choir (soloist in Haydn's Nelson Mass 1953). Joined Ambrosian Singers 1955; 2nd prize Kathleen Ferrier Comp. 1956; opera début 1956 ( Roza in Smetana's The Secret) with Oxford Univ. Opera Club. Glyndebourne Ch. 1956. Queen's Prize 1959. Wexford Fest. 1959. Sang leading roles with Handel Opera Soc. 1959; Aldeburgh Fest. with Britten from 1962, giving f.p. of Phaedra, 1976. Sang Lucretia in EOG's Russ. tour 1964. Recorded Angel in Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius (1964, cond. Barbirolli). NY début 1966 (concert); CG 1966; Glyndebourne 1970; ENO 1971. Created Kate in Owen Wingrave (TV 1971, CG 1973). Salzburg Fest. 1973 (concert). Retired from opera 1982, last appearance being as Orpheus in Gluck's opera at Glyndebourne (but sang Orpheus in NY concert 1989). One of most intense and intelligent of contemp. singers, as impressive in operatic parts as in the realm of Lieder, Eng. and Fr. song, oratorio, and Mahler. Hamburg Shakespeare Prize 1971. Autobiography Full Circle (London, 1982). CBE 1970. DBE 1976. CH 1994.