Janet Baker - Dido & Aeneas - Ah Belinda I am prest

[00philippe00fish]

magnifique

[BeautyMeansDeath]

Moves her hands to much here...

[AngelOfHarem]

Wow!! This is wonderful. I am learning this at the moment, and this recording is one of the best performances of this song I have ever heard.

[GickySama]

What key is this? (blush)

[nolasinger]

As a college student I acquired the vinyl l'Oiseaux-Lyre recording of Dido and Aeneas and was struck by the beauty and ease, and directness of Baker's performance. The comment about "natural vibrato" is well expressed. I've seldom heard straight-tone singing which achieved the visceral power to move an audience. Excessive vibrato is certainly undesirable, but free, natural vocalism ought to sound, well, like this.

[mdehkram]

A great vocal performance. The fully supported legato with body to the tone is admirable. This is different than the straight tone, no-vibrato Baroque singing of today. The vibrato is natural, and there is no force or strain though the tone is full and round. Contrast this aria with the excellent performance of the Dido's Lament, where there is more vibrato, and softer singing.

[mdehkram]

Along with Dido's Lament, another great performance. I like the closeup on the phrase that ends 2:30. Well done. Note the graceful walking and movements of the body.

[wanlockhead]

On  'Legends' cd available.. Amazon.

[Fleur192]

Is there a full version?

[Reylecia]

WOW! amazing!

[victoryforthepeeps]

The way Janet Baker goes from a gorgeous soprano headlong into dramatic emotion filled low notes boggles my mind with the emotional, technical and vocal amazingness. Brava

[jgonnerman85]

Is this performance available for purchase anywhere?

[whatlucyfoundthere]

Yes. I've listened to it on cd (checked out from my local library). It's part of the "Legends" series on the Decca label.

[whatlucyfoundthere]

@jgonnerman85 Yes, on the "Legends" series on Decca records. I've listened to it on cd.

[bebn007]

omg my singing teacher said i am going 2 b able 2 get my singing this song up to this standard. yeah right.

[H0llydragon]

I bet you can! Don't give up :)

[billyguns2]

Janet Baker was one of precious few singers who are also great musicians. Her artistry, rhythmic articulation, and superb sense of style have rarely been equaled.

[soaresoleil]

c est magnifique...elle a eu une voix géniale et surtout une très bonne interprétation...très émouvant

[marlenelavache]

merci d'avoir mis cette vidéo...c'est trop beau =)

[mfosh199]

If only Baroque opera would be always performed this way even today!!! :)

[nizammajid]

when i first heard her singing...i never know that her voice would be so beautiful!!! i never favoured her actuallly but now...i just bought compilation of her singing arias n song.....she's indeed one of the greatest singer!!

[mboechat]

Almost unbearably magical! DJB is no human!!! Or better still she is the most human of all! One can see and hear emotion, beauty until the bones melt!!! Thanks for this present as well as for When I am laid in earth! Sometimes when I hear her singing I almost don't believe my ears. It's too good to be true!

[jennythemusicmaker]

this is a good production! and the first one on youtube i've seen NOT played in baroque pitch either! ;)

[MoeWesley]

fiveiambline said it best..."Sweet Mercy!" In the presence of perfection, one may only plead for mercy (and perhaps pound on the desk.) And to anyone who doesn't understand this statement, I am truly sorry...keep trying.

[fiveiambline]

Sweet mercy! if only the VCR bit weren't there, this would be almost unbearably perfect as a video.

[ProphetessMarcia]

Awesome :)

[Kendrick2021]

Purcell and English go together like blood and life! Superb and our language has never been so beautiful!!!

[planthi80]

thank you for the super posting.

[OperaBR]

This is the most deeply moving Baroque opera! Only a unique performer as Janet Baker could bring this incredible quality of Purcell's music, it flows so naturally and with such simple pathos that the music is almost like a talk, although more meaningful and expressive. Baker's style and technique are superb, almost unsurpassable! Even nowadays, with all the "original" versions and period instruments, nobody can sing it with such heartfelt and stylish singing. Thanks for this AMAZING rarity! ;-)