Immerse yourself in the timeless artistry of Dame Janet Baker with "Plaisir d'amour - A Celebration of the Art of Dame Janet Baker." This exquisite 27-track collection, released in 2008 under the Decca Music Group Ltd. label, showcases the unparalleled vocal prowess and emotional depth of one of classical music's most revered sopranos. Spanning a diverse range of genres including opera, classical, and requiem, this album is a testament to Baker's extraordinary career and her ability to captivate audiences with her rich, resonant voice.
The album opens with the enchanting "Plaisir d'amour" and continues with a stunning array of arias and songs from some of the most beloved operas and compositions in the classical repertoire. From Handel's "Rodelinda" and "Serse" to Mozart's "La clemenza di Tito," and Gluck's "Orfeo ed Euridice," Baker's performances are nothing short of breathtaking. Her rendition of "Che farò senza Euridice" from "Orfeo ed Euridice" is a particular highlight, showcasing her ability to convey profound emotion and vulnerability.
Baker is accompanied by some of the most distinguished orchestras and conductors of her time, including Sir Neville Marriner, Raymond Leppard, and Sir Anthony Lewis. The album also features performances with the English Chamber Orchestra Chorus and the London Symphony Orchestra, adding to its rich, immersive sound.
With a duration of over two hours, this double-disc collection is a comprehensive celebration of Janet Baker's artistry. Whether you're a longtime fan or a newcomer to her work, "Plaisir d'amour" offers a captivating journey through the world of classical music, highlighting the enduring legacy of one of its greatest voices.
Plaisir d'amourJean-Paul-Égide Martini, Janet Baker, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner
Amarilli mia bellaGiulio Caccini, Janet Baker, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner
Pur dicesti, o bocca bellaAntonio Lotti, Janet Baker, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner
O notte o dea del misteroNiccolò Piccinni, Janet Baker, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner
Nel cor più non mi sentoGiovanni Paisiello, Janet Baker, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner
Intorno all'idol mioAntonio Cesti, Janet Baker, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner
Sen corre l'agnellettaDomenico Sarro, Janet Baker, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner
Ogni pena più spietataGiovanni Battista Pergolesi, Janet Baker, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner
Caro mio benTommaso Giordani, Janet Baker, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner
Rodelinda, HWV 34 / Act 1: "Pompe vane de morte!...Dove sei, amato bene?"George Frideric Handel, Janet Baker, English Chamber Orchestra, Raymond Leppard
Atalanta, HWV 35 / Act 1: Care selveGeorge Frideric Handel, Janet Baker, English Chamber Orchestra, Raymond Leppard
Serse, HWV 40 / Act 1: "Frondi tenere e belle...Ombra mai fù"George Frideric Handel, Janet Baker, English Chamber Orchestra, Raymond Leppard
Ariodante, HWV 33 / Act 3: "Dopo notte, atra e funesta"George Frideric Handel, Janet Baker, English Chamber Orchestra, Raymond Leppard
Hercules, HWV 60 / Act 3: "Where shall I fly"George Frideric Handel, Janet Baker, English Chamber Orchestra, Raymond Leppard
Dido and Aeneas / Act 3: But death...When I am laid...With drooping wings...Henry Purcell, Janet Baker, The St. Anthony Singers, English Chamber Orchestra, Anthony Lewis
"Vergnügte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust" Cantata, BWV 170: 1. "Vergnügte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust"Johann Sebastian Bach, Janet Baker, Philip Ledger, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner
Scena di Berenice 'Berenice, che fai?' (Hob XXIVa:10)Joseph Haydn, Janet Baker, English Chamber Orchestra, Raymond Leppard
Ständchen, D. 920Franz Schubert, Janet Baker, Raymond Leppard
La clemenza di Tito, K.621 / Act 1: "Deh se piacer mi vuol" - "Chi ciecamente crede"Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Janet Baker, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Sir Colin Davis
La clemenza di Tito, K.621 / Act 2: "Non più di fiori" - "Infelice! qual orrore!"Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Janet Baker, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Sir Colin Davis
Alceste, Wq. 37 / Act 1: "Divinités du Styx"Christoph Willibald Gluck, Janet Baker, English Chamber Orchestra, Raymond Leppard
Orfeo ed Euridice (Orphée et Euridice), Wq. 30 / Act 3: "Che farò senza Euridice?"Christoph Willibald Gluck, Janet Baker, English Chamber Orchestra, Raymond Leppard
Orfeo ed Euridice (Orphée et Euridice) - Sung in Italian/Vienna version (1762) / Act 2: "Che puro ciel, che chiaro sol"Christoph Willibald Gluck, Janet Baker, English Chamber Orchestra, Raymond Leppard
Béatrice et Bénédict / Act 2: "Non! Que viens-je d'entendre?" - "Il m'en souvient" - "Je l'aime donc?"Hector Berlioz, Janet Baker, London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis
Phaedra, Op. 93: In May, In Brilliant AthensBenjamin Britten, Janet Baker, English Chamber Orchestra, Steuart Bedford
Phaedra, Op. 93: Oh Gods Of WrathBenjamin Britten, Janet Baker, English Chamber Orchestra, Steuart Bedford
Phaedra, Op. 93: My Time's Too Short, Your HighnessBenjamin Britten, Janet Baker, English Chamber Orchestra, Steuart Bedford
Vinylscout
