Janet Baker - Dido & Aeneas - When I am laid in earth

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Dame Janet Baker sings one of the most beautiful arias of all opera, from Purcell's Dido and Aeneas.
Glyndebourne, 1966. Conductor: Charles Mackerras.

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I can only add, ... ( 1 month ago by Jamaicanchocolate34)

I can only add, AMEN.

Haunting and ... ( 1 month ago by andyb2707)

Haunting and sublime, beautifully sung AND acted by Dame Janet.

This will probably ... ( 1 month ago by metteholm75)

This will probably never be performed better, - ever.

Dame Janet was one ... ( 1 month ago by billyguns2)

Dame Janet was one of the greatest singers who ever sang, a complete artist and musician of the highest quality; she was one of those rare singers whose voice arrived "on time," and she always sang with stellar rhythmic pule and articulation. How fortunate we are to have this amazing example of her greatness.

One cannot imagine ... ( 1 month ago by ckrause5)

One cannot imagine a finer and more moving melding of text, musicianship, exquisite sound and acting than Dane Janet gives us in this extraordinary performance!

Array ( 1 month ago by eyrikrauda)

Vous avez exprim
é mes sentiments avec précision, cependant j'ajouterait qu'en écoutant ce video j'ai la sensation d'entendre Purcell lui même dans la voix de Dame Janet Baker, plaidant pour que les gens qui écouteront ces notes dans le futur, se rappellent de lui et ne le laissent submerger dans l'oubli, absol
ument émouvant!

I can't find words ... ( 1 month ago by oldaba)

I can't find words - rather tears!!!

This is proper good ... ( 3 weeks ago by kevvvvv01)

This is proper good stuff. She doesn't strain to be tragic, like so many of the cliche'd minnies who have a crack at this. Wonderful and beautiful.

la meilleure que ... ( 3 weeks ago by bastien31000)

la meilleure que j'ai jamais entendu !!!

Listen to Lorraine ... ( 3 weeks ago by boulboul03)

Listen to Lorraine Hunts Lieberson version. I prefer it, although this is also great.

Very sad ( 2 weeks ago by rlope69)

Very sad

wow wow wow wow wow ... ( 2 weeks ago by patrickhufschmid)

wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow

I've commented ... ( 1 week ago by mdehkram)

I've commented twice on this performance, but this is so fine. Excellent breath support on the soft singing, great legato line. The forte singing at the end is unexpected, because the singing has been restrained up until that point, which gives it more emotional impact. I wonder how long she rehearsed the falling to the ground. If anyone can point out any slight imperfections, I would gladly trade perfection for the ability to give such a once-in-a-lifetime performance such as this.

Baker starts ... ( 1 week ago by mdehkram)

Baker starts singing the aria piano, then on the repeat of the section she sings somewhat louder, the first "remember me" is sung pp, and the repeat forte.

Other singers who ... ( 1 week ago by mdehkram)

Other singers who sing this aria to display pretty voices miss the tragedy. Strong singers miss the frailty and vulnerability. They sing with such power that it is hard to imagine them going to the grave without a fight. Baker has the tragedy and vulnerability. If she performed opera many times, she had the opportunity to live this aria many times so that it could become a part of her. Even the forte singing at the end comes from the gut.

This aria is sung ... ( 1 week ago by mdehkram)

This aria is sung by a queen who has been abandoned by her lover and cannot live without him, and chooses death, and these are her final words. I have listened to most of the many performances of this aria on Youtube, including Baker's recording, and none of them come even close to this performance in capturing the emotion of a moment like this.

Re the criticism of ... ( 1 week ago by mdehkram)

Re the criticism of the vibrato here. It is appropriate for an extreme situation of someone committing suicide and saying farewell. An actor or real person would speak these lines through tears, or a weak voice, or a quivering in the voice. Hamlet remarked at the actor that was moved to tears. Would singers during the Baroque era would have failed to employ the vehicle of vibrato in their voice to convey intense emotion and to move their audiences to tears, such as this performance does?

Baker sings the ... ( 1 week ago by mdehkram)

Baker sings the line "When I am laid" with little vibrato, almost a straight tone, drained of color. On the first "remember me" the vibrato is used, but on a single pitch. "But ah, forget my fate" - the line is sung with vibrato, but still very softly and restrained. There is the remarkable pp on the high note "remember me." All this makes my contrast the final outpouring of emotion all the more effective.

There is more - the ... ( 1 week ago by mdehkram)

There is more - the tapering off of vocal lines into silence, the dragging and slight prolonging of notes, the soft singing but well supported, the gasps for breath - all contribute to the mood of lament.
This is even better than Baker's recording of this aria. The interpretation is somewhat different. Perhaps that it was sung while being acted contributed to the great emotional intensity and extraordinary being-in-the-moment of the singer.

It is amazing how ... ( 1 week ago by mdehkram)

It is amazing how the hand and arm movements are so slow, yet graceful, poised, and expressive, with variety of gesture. This performance is great on so many levels.

Both hands are free ... ( 1 week ago by mdehkram)

Both hands are free during the recitative, and at the phrase "death is now a welcome guest", both arms are outstretched, with palms upward - a gesture of invitation. During the aria, the right hand is limited in motion, holding Belinda's hand. Before the final forte climax, both hands are clutching Belinda's hand, but then both hands are freed to make the gesture again of outstretched arms with palms upward. These motions, and the falling to the floor, were likely carefully choreographed.

This is absolutely ... ( 1 week ago by NotteRequiem)

This is absolutely stunning...

She sends shivers ... ( 3 days ago by Jennuchan)

She sends shivers up my spine. Wonderful.

What a real and ... ( 2 days ago by mediocritytrooper)

What a real and true moment of pure perfection!

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