Dame Janet on Woman's Hour

[ardcarp]

If you are a Janet Baker fan (and who couldn't be?) do LA to today's edition of Woman's Hour

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b015clyy

She is such aa amazing person. She has a commendable North-country straightforwardness and speaks very clearly about her early life and career. I was privileged to share a stage with her as a callow student (in the chorus) and she made a deep imprssion on all the cast, not only for her voice (of course) but for her friendly, approachable and unaffected manner.

[gurnemanz]

I heard this interview. It was tinged with slight sadness when she talked about deliberately not having children because she felt she could not be the great mother which her mother had been while pursuing a career as a great artist. My admiration for her as an artist is boundless. I have a lot of recordings but only saw her once live in Massenet's Werther at ENO in the 70s.

[mercia]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/opera/8809165/The-mezzo-soprano-Janet-Baker-Why-Karajan-never-called-me-again.html

[ardcarp]

she talked about deliberately not having children because she felt she could not be the great mother which her mother had been

Sad maybe, but one has to admire the decision. So many young professionals decide to (or have to) rush straight back to work and leave their kids with child-minders. Domage, IMHO.

[Nick Armstrong]

If you are a Janet Baker fan (and who couldn't be?) do LA to today's edition of Woman's Hour

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b015clyy

She is such aa amazing person. She has a commendable North-country straightforwardness and speaks very clearly about her early life and career. I was privileged to share a stage with her as a callow student (in the chorus) and she made a deep imprssion on all the cast, not only for her voice (of course) but for her friendly, approachable and unaffected manner.

Agreed 100% - one of the great artists. Her interview with Norman Lebrecht (available I assume still as a podcast) would be good follow up listening, albeit covering some of the same ground e.g. re: children.

[Stillhomewardbound]

I heard the Lebrecht interview which was very enjoyable. I, personally, didn't detect a sadness at not having had children.

Couples who choose not to have children fill their lives in other ways and certainly what a full life JB and her husband enjoyed.

She is indeed wonderfully earthy and grounded. I think was what made her an artist of admirable integrity.