Berlioz, Nuits d'été. Janet Baker.n°1. Villanelle.

[xapaga1]

The French subtitle is simply horrible, never corresponding to what Dame Janet is singing. I bet it was done by a labourer who has no knowledge of the French language, let alone any respect for the arts.

[zamyrabyrd]

To be able to evaluate dispassionately what Baker was doing most of the time, there is the necessity to blast the irrational hype that protected her and made her much better than she actually was. Here she may be good but not great. Her riding on the music and not penetrating the subtle nuances of the words is pedestrian. Her sound colors are very limited. Her evident enthusiasm for the music would be better served if she were an instrumentalist, instead of a singer who must communicate text.

[raskkass]

as a French, let me tell you that Dame Janet Baker sounds french here, as she sounds english in english!.. her diction is excellent (even the famous fench 'R' are respected!..) definitivly NO, you will never find here any common defects you can hear usually in anglophone singers!...

furthermore, the voice is sensual and the artist is very stylish!...

[jolicrasseux]

@raskkass

As a French... let me tell you that I frequently met English persons with a perfect knowledge and pronunciation of our mother language...!

Nevertheless, Dame Janet Baker is marvelous !

[blakley42]

This post does no particular credit to Ms Baker, or Berlioz, for that matter. Specifically, the dramatic impact is compromised by the too-fast tempo, and the quality of the sound is just a couple of clicks this side of awful. Ms Baker is served to much better effect in her recording with Sir John Barberolli, which I believe has been posted on youtube.

[altoegovcl]

Definitely Herbert Blomstedt!

[LesGirlsPower]

TROP NUL je doi laprendre !!

[neverforeverkate]

I prefer the contralto and tenor versions.

[McMagic]

Je l'ai chantée au solfège ^^

[Orlymusicboy]

the subtitles are really out! like the voice.

[rogeroak]

A great singer.

The conductor is Herbert Blomstedt,

not Colin Davis

[LiiRyXx]

wai jlé étudier en cours de musique

[Pacabelle]

I've never heard DJB singing before. I have two different recordings that I listen to; one is by Jessye Norman and another one is by Susan Graham. I think I'm completely hooked by the latter one.

[henripche]

This certainly is a beautiful song, although it sounds rather strange being sung by a woman.

[CreenCB]

berlioz wrote two versions of les nuits d'ete...the first version was for mezzo OR tenor...only no.5 was supposed to be solely for tenor. Later he orchestrated the music for soprano to sing 1, 4 and 6...and contralto on 2, baritone on 3 and tenor on 5...so basically what im saying is this is sung by a woman most of the time!

[henripche]

Yeah, you're right, I prefer it sung by a woman in fact; it's just that the lyrics talk about her being in love with a female. But I guess that happens all the time with classical songs.

[CreenCB]

you're right.. it is weird!

[derbratsche]

The recording quality is low, but this is a fine performance...

[rolliekop]

Baker was a great voice and a great musician...a very rare combination of virtues. And she had a noble bearing to top it off. A true class act.

[marcocito]

M. Reebachan : Il est très désagréable de comparer! Rome est-elle plus belle que Paris???

[mltube]

What a wonderful voice she had: full mezzo with a silvery ring that is more common in the higher voices. This song is very well done.

[reebachan]

Baker is so much better than Crespin!

[belgian]

I would not say that! Both have a splendid diction and a superb voice. The voices are different. Both are great!

[moghedien13]

very true.