Audio CD review:
Johann Sebastian Bach, Johannes Brahms, Benjamin Britten, Henri Duparc, Maurice Durufle, Edward Elgar, Gabriel Faure, George Frideric Handel, Gustav Mahler, Janet Baker - The Very Best of Janet Baker

Johann Sebastian Bach, Johannes Brahms, Benjamin Britten, Henri Duparc, Maurice Durufle, Edward Elgar, Gabriel Faure, George Frideric Handel, Gustav Mahler, Janet Baker - The Very Best of Janet Baker

Band: Johann Sebastian Bach, Johannes Brahms, Benjamin Britten, Henri Duparc, Maurice Durufle, Edward Elgar, Gabriel Faure, George Frideric Handel, Gustav Mahler, Janet Baker Title: The Very Best of Janet Baker Rating: Release Date: 09 April, 2002 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Christmas Oratorio: Bereite Dich, Zion 2: Messiah: He Was Despised 3: Elijah: O Rest In The Lord 4: Alto Rhapsody 5: Ich Bin Der Welt Abhanden Gekommen 6: L'Invitation Au Voyage 7: Pie Jesu (From The Requieum Op.9) 8: Sea Pictures Op.37: I. Sea Slumber-Song 9: Sea Pictures Op.37: II. In Haven 10: Sea Pictures Op.37: III. Sabbath Morning At Sea 11: Sea Pictures Op.37: IV. Where Corals Lie 12: Sea Pictures Op.37: V. The Swimmer 13: The Angel's Farewell - Ambrosian Singers 14: Linden Lea 15: A Boy Was Born, Op.3: Corpus Christi Carol 16: Pretty Ring Time 17: Prison 18: Soir 19: Clair De Lune 20: Ave Maria (Ellens Gesang III) 21: Gretchen Am Spinnrade 22: Wiegenlied (Schlafe, Schlafe) 23: Die Forelle 24: Auf Dem Wasser Zu Singen 25: An Die Musik 26: An Sylvia 27: Nacht Und Traume 28: Heidenroslein 29: Du Bist Die Ruh' 30: Auf Flugeln Des Gesanges 31: Liederkreis, Op.39: Mondnacht 32: Frauenliebe Und -Leben Op.42: Du Ring An Meinem Finger 33: Geistliches Wiegenlied 34: Befreit 35: Morgen!

Editoral Review Central to CD 1 is Elgar's Sea Pictures, a definitive account with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir John Barbirolli. While it is impossible to really squeeze The Very Best of Janet Baker onto just two CDs, this two and a half hour anthology is a fine portrait of the British mezzo-soprano. While other British music is represented by Vaughan Williams's "Linden Lea," Britten's "Corpus Christie Carol," and Warlock's "Pretty Ring Time," CD 2 balances the program with 10 Schubert songs accompanied at the piano by either Gerald Moore or Geoffrey Parsons, which range from "Ave Maria" to Shakespeare. The set lends equal weight to orchestral and more intimate song, as well as to works in English--a very moving reading of Handel's "He was despised" from Messiah--and European landmarks, including Mendelssohn's On Wings of Song and Brahms's Alto Rhapsody, the latter with a superlative London Philharmonic Orchestra under Sir Adrian Boult. In an age of technically dazzling but sometimes bland singers, this release is a reminder of emotionally intense musicianship that retains vocal clarity and commitment to the composer's intentions over superstar ego. The word great is often used all too easily, but it could not be more appropriate for this outstanding collection of a great singer. --Gary S. Dalkin .. You can see a complete list of all Johann Sebastian Bach, Johannes Brahms, Benjamin Britten, Henri Duparc, Maurice Durufle, Edward Elgar, Gabriel Faure, George Frideric Handel, Gustav Mahler, Janet Baker discography, or go back to the Johann Sebastian Bach, Johannes Brahms, Benjamin Britten, Henri Duparc, Maurice Durufle, Edward Elgar, Gabriel Faure, George Frideric Handel, Gustav Mahler, Janet Baker tabs