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copyright@2007 Julianne Baird
 
 

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Dr. Julianne Baird's oeuvre of almost 100 recordings have established her, according to one music researcher, as one of the 10 most recorded women in the world. However, her place in the top ranks of classical recording artists, has not been achieved by sheer numbers. Many of her CD's have generated the highest praise from music critics in respected newspapers and periodicals around the globe.

"If Spring sunlight could be translated into sound, it would probably be a lot like Julianne Baird. The soprano's voice has a natural, unforced but moderate warmth that makes the listener pull closer. . . And it gives a distinctive incandescence to everything she sings." Opera News, 1995
"Julianne Baird is a vocal phenomenon. . . a rare and wondrous voice guided by an extraordinary musical intelligence." Fanfare, 1989
"Julianne Baird has an exquisite voice, which she uses with the intelligence of a scholar. . . the best voice on any living musicologist." Washington Post,1989
"The breathtaking pure, lovely Julianne Baird, would be enough reason for listening to Handel's rarely performed Berenice." **** (four stars) CD Review, 1994
"Baird's extraordinary technique and musicianship find expression in a voice . . . ideal for this period of music." High Performance Review, 1993
"At times, the taste she [Joan Sutherland] shows in performing ornaments approaches Baird's." Opera News, 1995
"Julianne Baird as Rosmene gives what is surely one of the three or four finest accounts of a Handel operatic role yet on record." New York Times, 1987
"It is no surprise that it is Julianne Baird who delights us with the best moments of the CD. In Cantata 51 with trumpet, she is literally radiant, and performs the difficult passages with brilliance even while demonstrating a burning expressivity in the contemplative passages." Diapason, (Paris) 1992
"Baird offers a keenly intelligent reading, most imaginative in Irrlicht and Einsamkeit." Opera News, 1998

Many of Julianne Baird's CD's have been honored as among the best releases for their respective years by the New York Times, Diapason, Gramophone, Fanfare and others.


SOLO RECORDINGS: RECITALS AND COLLECTIONS:

 The New York Philharmonic celebrated the entrance to the new millenium with a 10 CD set highlighting its best performances of 20th century composers. Dr. Baird is featured in the World Premiere orchestral recording of Steve Reich's Tehillim with Zubin Mehta conducting. In the recently released Jane's Hand, Dr. Baird sings English arias culled from the personal hand- copied musical notebooks of the authoress. The CD, Jane's Hand as well as a CD featuring Fanny Mendelssohn Lieder was recorded in the Gordon Theater on the Camden Campus.

Winterreise is the first and only recording of Schubert's original 1827 version of his monumental song cycle--a project made possible by a Rutgers Research Council Grant. English Lute Song was given an Ovation Nomination for best Solo Vocal Album. Lullabies: . . . from The Metropolitan Museum of Art was commissioned by the Museum.

Dance on a Moonbean (issued in July 2000) features Dr. Baird, Meryl Streep, Dawn Upshaw and Frederica von Stade in a project to benefit children. Among the recordings of Dr. Baird's to be released in Fall 2000 are Passionate Pavans and Galliards: The Music of John Dowland, recorded in New York's Town Hall, and the premiere recording of the modern composer John Freeman: settings of poetry by John Donne.

New York Philharmonic Orchestra: Steve Reich's Tehillim, World Premiere Recording, Julianne Baird, soprano soloist, Zubin Mehta, conductor

Dance on a Moonbeam: Meryl Streep, Julianne Baird, Benjamim Luxon, Dawn Upshaw, Frederica von Stade, London Symphony Telarc CD-80554

Passionate Pavanes and Galliards: Lyrichord LEM8046

***Handel Glorious Handel: Soprano Arias Newport Classic NPD 85646

Shakespeare's Music Dorian DOR-90017

Elizabeth's Music (Queen Elizabeth I) 1533-1603) Dorian DOR 90015

Angels of Antiquity: Music from the Middle Ages to the Age of Enlightenment. Dorian: DOR 09990

The Art of the American Singer (Sampler) Baird Newport Classic

Anon Lullabies: A Songbook Companion from The Metropolitan

Museum of Art ESS. AY CD 1054

***Anon The English Lute Song

Dorian: DOR 90109

***Bach Bach Arias with Flute Baird/Newbold/Mattax

Newport Classic 85530

Bach A Baroque Christmas Baird/Ama Deus

Vox 7548

***Bartok/ Kodaly Bartok and Kodály Crofut Consort:Albany

RecordsTroy046

***Caccini The Italian Lute Song Baird:McFarlane

Carissimi Dorian: DOR 90236

Dowland Awake Sweet Love: The Music of John Dowland

DeCormier singers Arabesque Z-6622

***Dowland Greensleeves: A Collection of English Lute Songs Baird: Morely McFarlane Dorian DOR 90126

***Gluck/Handel "Jane's Hand": The Jane Austen Songbooks

Vox Records 7537

Handel Greatest Arias

Vox Classic: Vox 7527

Handel: Handel Favorites with America's finest Early Music

SOPRANO

Newport Classic 85568

***Handel Songs of Love and War. Works by Caccini, Frescobaldi,

Handel, Monteverdi etc. Baird/Tilney

Dorian: DOR 90104

Handel Handel: Where'er you walk: Favourite English Arias

Newport Classic NPD 85610

***Monteverdi: Musica Dolce: Music of Cavalli and Monteverdi

Baird:Tilney

Dorian DOR 90123

***Mozart Lieder Baird: Tilney

Dorian DOR 90123

***Mendelssohn Fanny Mendelssohn Lieder

Newport Classic: NPD85652

***Purcell English Mad Songs and Ayres Baird:Tilney

Arne Dorian: DOR 90105

Foster, Stephen Songs Baird/ UrreyAlbany Records

Albany Records: Troy 119

*** Folk Lullabies and Dances Bill Crofut and Baird

Albany Records TROY048

***Schubert Winterreise (original 1827 version) Baird/Willis

Newport Classic 85614

Schubert Night Songs Baird/Willis

Vox Classic 7542

Teasin': Turn of the Century Parlour Songs and Rags

Helicon Classics HE1001


SOLO CANTATAS:

G.F. Handel: Italian Solo Cantatas and Clérambault Dramatic Cantatas were recorded in London and represent the first recordings of several of these composers' rarely heard cantatas. Hasse Cantatas and Ballads includes premiére recordings of the works of this oft-neglected composer. It was also recorded in London and fulfilled Dr. Baird's Noah Greenburg Award given through the American Musicological Society.

A Baroque Christmas was sponsored by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City based on a program performed annually in the Met's Medieval Sculpture Garden by Dr. Baird and the Aulos ensemble about which the New York Times Music Critics wrote: "If you can attend but one Christmas concert this season, this is it".

Bach Cantata BWV 51 Jauchzet Gott Bach Ensemble: Rifkin

L'Oiseaux-Lyre 417 616-2

Cantatas BWV 202 and 209 Bach Ensemble: Rifkin

L'Oiseauu-Lyre 421 728-2

***Bach Solo Cantatas: Cantata BWV 51 Jauchzet Gott

American Bach Soloists Koch, 3-7138-2H1

Bach Cantata 140, 51 and 79 Bach Ensemble, Rifkin

L'Oiseaux Lyre 443-188

Clérambault Clérambault Dramatic Cantatas Music's Re-creation

Meridian CDE 84182

***Handel: Handel in Italy Baird/ J. Ostendorf

Newport Classics NCD60043

*** Handel: The Italian Years Philomel

Dorian DOR90147

G.F. Handel: Italian Solo Cantatas Baird/Proud

CDE 84189

Hasse Cantatas, Ballads and Sonatas Baird/Hadden

CRD 3488

Melani, Baroque Music of Love and War: Four Cantatas for Soprano Monteclair Musical Heritage MHS 4757A

Montéclair French Cantatas of the 18th century American Baroque

Koch LC 6644

Scarlatti, Bach A Baroque Christmas Aulos Ensemble Music Masters

01512-67119-2

***Telemann: Harmonischer Gottes-Dienst Music's Re-creation

Meridian Records CDE84159


 HANDEL OPERAS

Beginning with the acclaimed premiere recording Imeneo in 1987 Julianne Baird has collaborated with a group of American musicians and singers in a series of long-neglected operas by George Frideric Handel. Deidamia, Handel's last opera, is scheduled for release in November, 2000. Among the premiere recordings are Siroe, Muzio, Ezio, Sosarme, Faramondo and Berenice. In both Deidamia and Berenice, Dr. Baird realizes the title role.

In most cases, these important works of the great composer had lain forgotten since their London performances in the 18th century. The project has garnered attention from national and international music critics, and at times sparked a flurry of comparisons with the comparable European releases. Paul Turok , a classical music reviewer, calls the project "impressive." Stereo Review writes: "For Baroque music fans this release is an absolute must. Not only is the performance first rate, but it proves that a group of American musicians is just as capable of re-creating a large-scale Baroque vocal work as their English, French, or German colleagues are."

*** Imeneo (premiere recording) Palmer/Brewer

Vox cum Laude: 2-MCD10063

***Siroe (premiere recording) Newport Classics

Newport Classic NCD60125-1/2/3

Muzio (premiere recording) Palmer/Brewer Chamber Orchestra

Newport NPD 85540

Ezio (premiere recording) Clark/Manhattan Chamber Orchestra

Vox Records 2-7503

***Sosarme (premiere recording on period instruments)

NPD 85575 Amor Artis J. Somary

***Berenice (premiere recording-title role) Brewer Orchestra

NPD Newport 85615

***Faramondo (premiere recording)

Vox 3-7536

Deidamia (premiere recording) -release date November, 2000


LARGE CANTATAS AND ORATORIOS

Dr. Julianne Baird was one of the original five singers who performed and recorded Bach's B-minor mass with one singer to a part-- realizing musicologist Joshua Rifkin's controversial theory of Bach's performing forces and launching a debate still current in musicological circles today. In fact Dr. Baird participated with Joshua Rifkin at the International Celebration of Bach in the year 2000 by performing the Magnificat in Bach's own Thomaskirche, Leipzig, Germany. Although the debate persists, the critics gave their "highest scores" to Julianne Baird, who "convinced with clear and firm arias."

Dr. Baird's soprano solos in Handel's Messiah have garnered the highest praise from reviewers of both her recording and performances. Most recently, James R. Oestreich, in his comprehensive survey of recent recordings and performances of Handel's Messiah for the N.Y. Times, concluded with special praise for Julianne Baird's interpretative skills: "in that respect, Ms. Baird remains the model".

Bach Cantatas from Mühlhausen and Weimar BWV 12, 18, 61

Jeffrey Thomas: American Bach Soloists--Koch 3-7332-2Hi

Cantatas for Holy Week, BWV 4, 131, 182

Jeffrey Thomas: American Bach Soloists Koch Intl 3-7235-241

Cantatas BWV 8, BWV 78, and BWV 99

Bach Ensemble/ Rifkin L'Oiseau-Lyre 421 728-2

Trauerode and BWV 156 and 8

Jeffrey Thomas: American Bach Soloists Koch Intl 3-7163-2H1

B-minor Mass Ama Deus Ens.

Vox Classics Vox2 7524

B-minor Mass Bach Ensemble/Rifkin

Nonesuch Records 9 79036-2

B-minor Mass American Bach Soloists

Koch Interational 7194 Jeffrey Thomas

Magnificat Bach Ensemble/Rifkin

Pro Arte CDD 185

Magnificat: Ama Deus Ensemble

Vox Records 7531

St. John Passion Brandenburg Collegium

Newport Classics NC 60015-1/2

St John Passion Smithsonian Chamber

Smithsonian ND 0381 Players

Handel Acis and Galatea Amor Artis/J. Somary

Newport Classics NCD60045-1/2

Acis and Galatea Ama Deus Ensemble

Vox2-7519

Joshua (Premiere recording) Palmer

Newport Classics NPD85515-1/2

Alexander Balus (Premiere recording) Palmer

Newport Classic NPD 85625

Messiah Sorrell: Cleveland Baroque Orchestra

Onda Records: PAP9612JS

Messiah (1749 Covent Garden Performance) Radu:Ama

Deus Vox2-7502

Purcell: Excerpts from The Fairy Queen Renz/ NY Grande Bande

Music Masters MM60188X

Purcell: Come ye Sons of Art Renz/ Grande Bande

Music Masters MM 20005

Purcell: The Fairy Queen Renz/ Grande Bande

Music Masters MM 20003

Scarlatti, A Ishmael (Premiere Recording) Palmer

Newport Classics/ 85558

Vivaldi Dixit Dominus American Boy Choir

Handel Music Masters 01612-67084-2


OPERA RECORDINGS (other composers)

Based on the Mark Twain short story, The Jumping Frog of Calaveras County is the first recording of 20th century composer Lukas Foss's Venice version of his opera. Likewise the intermezzo Pimpinone is heard here in a premiere recording. Master Peter's Puppet Show and the Orbon works comprise the last recording of the eminent Mexican conductor Eduardo Mata who died tragically. It represents part of his on-going project dedicated to documenting works of lesser known Latin composers and was recorded in Mexico City. Monteverdi's Orfeo, sponsered by Exxon, was performed in Oxford, England and in the Queen's Room in Trafalgar Square before being recorded at the Abbey Road Studios in London.

La Serva Padrona is based on a scholarly edition by a Milanese Pergolesi musicolgist Luciano Bertini..

Dido and Aeneas, with Christopher Hogwood conductor, brought together Dr. Baird, and Emma Kirkby, Decca's two early music sopranos. It was performed at the Barbicon, London before being recorded at Decca Studios in greater London.

Monteverdi Orfeo Gardiner, English Baroque Soloists

DGG Archiv, 419-250-1/2/4

***Foss, Lukas The Jumping Frog of Calaveras County (Premiere Recording

of Venice Version) Clark, Newport Classic NPD 85609

Purcell Dido and Aeneas Hogwood/Decca 436-992

***DeFalla Master Peter's Puppet Show/Orbon / Psyche

Conductor: Eduardo Mata (Premiere recording, Orbon)

Dorian Records DOR 90214

***Pergolesi: La Serva Padrona (original version)

Philomel/Palmer Omega OCD 1016

***Telemann: Pimpinone (Premiere recording) St. Lukes Chamber Orch

Palmer

Newport Classic NCD 60117


COLLECTIONS OF RENAISSANCE MUSIC

Before becoming a soloist and recording artist of the Baroque Early Music movement, Dr. Julianne Baird was a member of the Waverly Consort, which specialized in Renaissance music and performed over seventy concerts a year internationally.

Spanish Music in the Age of Exploration: Waverly Consort

CBS Masterworks: 7464-37208-1

The Christmas Story Waverly Consort

CBS Masterworks: 7464-37751-1

Renaissance Favorites Waverly Consort

CBS Masterworks: 7464-37845-1

 A Renaissance Noel Polygram Vox, the Renaissance

Consort/Radu

 Chorale Settings by Michael Praetorius NY Cornet and

Sacbut Ensemble Newport Classics NC60021


Julianne Baird is Distinguished Professor of Music
at Rutgers University in Camden,
New Jersey. 

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Last updated July 12, 2007