Janet Baker: The complete "Sea pictures Op. 37" (Elgar)

Рет қаралды 150,388

Күн бұрын

Sea pictures (Op. 37):
I. Sea slumber-song 00:00
II. In haven 05:04
III. Sabbath morning at sea 07:10
IV. Where corals lie 13:29
V. The swimmer 17:39
Elgar, Edward (1857-1934) -composer
Dame Janet Baker -mezzosoprano
Sir John Barbirolli -conductor
London Symphony Orchestra
Score: conquest.imslp.info/files/imgl...
Playlist: "The art of British song: Elgar, Somervell, Williams, Finzi..": • The art of British son...
Sea Pictures, Op. 37 is a song cycle by Sir Edward Elgar consisting of five songs written by various poets. It was set for contralto and orchestra, though a distinct version for piano was often performed by Elgar. Many mezzo-sopranos have sung the piece. Much of the vocal line of the first song, "Sea Slumber Song," is heard again in other parts of the cycle; most notably, the second stanza is heard again almost in its entirety as part of the finale.
Elgar composed the piece on his 1844 Broadwood Square piano while residing at Birchwood Lodge, Great Storridge in Herefordshire. The songs were originally written in high keys for a soprano voice, but transposed to lower keys for the orchestral version, largely at the request of the contralto Clara Butt. The songs were composed in July 1899 (apart from "In Haven (Capri)", which was a reworking of his 1897 "Love alone will stay").
The premiere was on 5 October 1899 at the Norfolk and Norwich Festival with Elgar himself conducting and Clara Butt singing, dressed as a mermaid. On 7 October, Clara Butt gave the first London performance at St. James's Hall, with Elgar at the piano. Nearly two weeks later, on 20 October, Butt performed it for Queen Victoria at Balmoral.
Until August 1900, Elgar's songs had been published by Novello: but Elgar had a disagreement with them, and from then his songs, including "The Pipes of Pan" and Sea Pictures were published by Boosey & Hawkes, who bought the copyright for £50, with a small royalty per copy of the songs published separately.
Sea Pictures was published in the following languages:
German: See-Bilder with words by Dr. Wilhelm Henzen
French: Marines with words by George Petilleau.
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_Pict...
Buy the CD here: www.amazon.com/Elgar-Cello-Con...

Пікірлер: 131

@christinesteyer4393 4 жыл бұрын

One of the greatest singers singing one of the greatest song cycles ever written. Magical!!!!!!!

@michaelwestgate2124 3 жыл бұрын

55 years old and still one of the finest recordings ever made. Of anything!

@55archduke Жыл бұрын

This is what you'll hear when you get to heaven. Along with her recording of "The Dream of Gerontius."

@ilirllukaci5345 9 ай бұрын

That was the plan.

@stanbattle7436 3 ай бұрын

Not one of the finest recordings it is the version that all others are measured by and don't compare. This recording has become the benchmark.

@adrianleverkuehn9832 Ай бұрын

@@stanbattle7436You're right.

@Guzunderstrop 5 жыл бұрын

Janet Baker has the sort of voice for which the word 'plangent' was invented. Her voice has that slight tremulous quality, just short of vibrato, which expresses melancholy and stoicism so well. Gorgeous.

@1earflapping 9 сағат бұрын

Superb analysis!

@pablonavarro2907 4 жыл бұрын

When ever I get nostalgic, I always come back to this incredible recording. This is artistry of the top scale. Perfect voice, great musicianship. The balance with the orchestra is matchless. What a gift to humanity

@55archduke Жыл бұрын

Exactly. Its perfection is beyond words.

@meisterwue 10 ай бұрын

@@55archdukeme too.....❤

@jbut1208 3 жыл бұрын

For me the Sea Pictures will always be associated with Dame Janet Baker! Marvellous!

@TheJonnyzeus 5 жыл бұрын

Every time I reach “Sabbath morning at sea” my senses become overloaded! I have cried because of the beauty of the piece on so many occasions.

@adrianleverkuehn9832 Ай бұрын

Me too. Every time I've heard it, for over fifty years...

@ronlevine8873 2 жыл бұрын

I originally sought out this recording for the famous Du Pre Elgar Cello Concerto and came quite unexpectedly upon the Janet Baker wonderful Sea Pictures as well. Sublime. A monument of classical music and singing. Pardon me, Jaqueline, but this side will get pride of place. A desert island keeper!

@keithhulks7049 4 жыл бұрын

I had the great privilege to hear Dame Janet live at The Royal Festival Hall singing this sone cycle. She appeared wearing a sea-green dress. er performance was spell-binding. AS the last note died away there was complete silence for a few momets while we in the auditorium came back to earth and then tumultuous applause. I have to admit I came across this sycle purely by accident, having purchased the album for the cello concerto with Jacqueline du Pre. Since then I has become one of my favourites.

@polmccann2291 Жыл бұрын

Same! I came for the cello concerto and then became obsessed with Dame Janet’s voice - and the way you can literately hear ocean swells in the orchestra.

@briskyoungploughboy Ай бұрын

@@polmccann2291 Exactly!

@robertfrankgill5962 7 жыл бұрын

In the Gramophone Good CD Guide for 2002 one finds... "Equally, the young Janet Baker translated the work into something greater than had been appreciated before. Until this recording, Sea Pictures had tended to be underprized even among Elgarians; but the passion, intensity amd sheer beauty of this performance with each of the five songs sharply distinct rebutted any idea that - in reflection of verse of varying quality - it had anything of sub-standard Elgar in it. It is a work which you will probably never be able to listen to again without hearing in your mind Janet Baker's deeply individual phrasing on this disc. What strikes you more than anything else is the central relevance to Baker's whole career of the last stanza in 'Sabbath Morning at sea', a radiant climax. 'He shall assist me to look higher' says the Barrett Browning poem, and the thrust of meaning as she sings it invariably conveys a _frisson_ such as you rarely get on record."

@paullewis2413 6 жыл бұрын

The voice of perfection - no words can accurately describe Janet Baker's artistry, I guess the "finest" is as close as we can get.

@defaultemail8484 11 ай бұрын

The LP is often touted as a technical tour-de-force. But its real significance is that Sir John B & the LSO presented to the world and made famous, two exceptional young ladies at the very start of their careers; JB & JdP. Each side is perhaps the most perfect rendition of their respective Elgar

@LaurieSavage 7 жыл бұрын

Janet Baker's voice never fails to move me.

@TheHumbuckerboy 4 жыл бұрын

BBC4 at 11pm tomorrow evening is airing a documentary about Janet.

@keithhulks7049 4 жыл бұрын

In this work I believe Dame Janet has set the benchmark against wich all other versions will be judged. I cme across this recording quite by chance having bought the LP for the famous rendition of the cello concerto by Jacqueline du Pre. Listening to Sea Pictures I was transported to another world. Three greats o the same album - Jackie, Dame Janet and Sir John. What could possibly be better?

@Robinwhiteart 6 жыл бұрын

So very nice to see intelligent appreciative comments on KZfaq! Of course Janet Baker deserves them, that helps! :)

@bayswater1944 9 жыл бұрын

Risking my skin, I have always thought this song cycle approaches the most beautiful music ever written, with Dame Janet the perfect voice to bring it to life under the magical baton of Sir John. I tried listening to it while working in the gym once, but was so transfixed I lost all sense of timing, routine or direction. It demands perfect attention and rewards with perfect beauty.

@gerontius34 8 жыл бұрын

+ROGER CALLAN Everybody should read your post. You are spot on, and thank-you!

@MartinVanBoven 7 жыл бұрын

No risk there. It /is/ near-perfect.

@stanbattle7436 5 жыл бұрын

And Dame Janet nailed it,,, this is the standard by which all performances are measured.

@alexstein3894 5 жыл бұрын

maybe not the best but i get it. try the piano quintet and the first half of dream of gerontius if you haven't already.

@yvonneheald6456 4 жыл бұрын

Roger what you say is so true. Her voice defies all superlatives. This album is one of the most moving rendition of Elgars Masterpiece I have ever heard. RIP Dear Janet Baker

@corneliusmahoney1110 4 жыл бұрын

I first heard dame Janet sing at the Royal Festival Hall in 1965 with sir john and the Halle. She sang sea pictures and songs by Mahler. The beginning of a musical love affair which took me to the zenith of gerontius and dido.

@richardgerman 3 ай бұрын

A lovely voice,a great voice.It is just wonderful with Elgars music what more could you wish for.Joy oh Joy.

@simonhurst4625 2 ай бұрын

I heard snd saw this piece last night at a concert......it brought tears to my eyes...so beautiful

@richardmcmahon7466 6 жыл бұрын

My one regret isthat it is only in the last couple of years that I have "LISTENED' to Dame Janet..My loss.

@TheHumbuckerboy 4 жыл бұрын

There is a documentary about Janet on BBC4 tomorrow night at 11pm .

@redrocket5183 3 жыл бұрын

'As Harold Rosenthal (editor of "Opera") wrote in "The Listener:" "[Dame Janet] can hold an audience enthralled just as Maria Callas did. I have been present on several occasions when this has happened...when one could not only hear the silence in the audience but experience that moment when performer, orchestra and listener were united by that magic spark that is kindled only when a great artist is on stage."'

@hjd832 9 жыл бұрын

I love this and even more her rendition of 'Where Corals Lie'......her voice is so distinctive and clear and perfect for both these beautiful melodies.....Other so called masterclasses sound thick & heavy by comparison..almost embarrassing, I think...

@saltburner2 5 жыл бұрын

She was never in better voice than on this recording.

@rstross 7 жыл бұрын

This is my favorite album in the whole world. It features both Jacqueline du Pre and Janet Baker. A link is given in the comments section above. I strongly recommend buying the album - it has to go down as one of EMI's best LP's ever made. I remember sitting on the sofa as a child, listening to this music while reading the program notes. There's something magical about an LP record. I'm not talking about the vinyl vs. digital audio quality controversy. I'm talking about, how you can just pick up a record - hold it, read the notes on the back, feel it, touch it, smell it - experience it the way the artist originally intended it. Of course, now I have the CD but, to read the notes you have to fight the CD case, then rip out the little booklet and get out your magnifying glass (almost) if you want to read anything. Then you have to worry about getting it back in the case without damaging the booklet or the plastic tabs - very aggravating. This performance always brings me to tears...

@peterhiltonamster 6 жыл бұрын

Mine too. I want to die listening to it, if I still have ears to hear with.

@jackarcher7495 6 жыл бұрын

If my house were burning, I'd grab the pictures of our wedding and my parents, and that CD. They're shelved alphabetically, so it would take me no time at all.

@rewcorkett5754 6 жыл бұрын

Robert Stross It can of course be listened to without any knowledge of the background notes or even understanding of anything technical. Indeed even without intelligence and still be enjoyed. I know this - in my unintelligent bones.

@georgehemingway1718 5 жыл бұрын

I wholeheartedly agree with you ,my sentiments to the letter!

@catherinescott562 4 жыл бұрын

Robert Stross I used to love to read the backs of my father’s LPs - usually there was a photo or 2 as well. I know exactly what you’re talking about

@SimonUbsdell 7 жыл бұрын

Beyond incredible. She never sang a note that wasn't extraordinarily beautiful, but total mastery of tone and line was the least of her astonishing talents. This is quite simply musicianship at its very best - a truly transcendent performance. (And Elgar is pretty decent here too, to say the very least!)

@tillthefatlady...541 9 жыл бұрын

Our strength is in our vulnerability. And boy is she strong ! Grazie, maestra !

@barrywilliams.2590 5 жыл бұрын

An experience of pure joy, rich meaningful music and lyrics. Janet Baker’s voice just completely sublime.

@scyllachaos5723 8 жыл бұрын

Still magnificent.......so beautiful...and Dame Janet Baker...magnificent

@oldandlumpy 3 жыл бұрын

Rarely does a voice and music match so perfectly.

@romearomeo 6 жыл бұрын

Traumhaft schön. Janet Baker ist eine hervorragende Künstlerin.

@captsub 9 жыл бұрын

Thanks for posting. Dame Janet does this Elgar song cycle better than anybody. I've heard them all (I think). This is still the very best. And lets not forget the great Sir John Barbirolli here - Bravi all 'round. BTW Elgar's music is first rate throughout. Why do so many people who should know better keep writing off Elgar as a second rate has-been? Certainly a near great.

@Tenortalker 9 жыл бұрын

captsub Elgar was a great not a near great I would say. Where would Britten , V. Williams , Walton and Tippett have been without the influence of his compositions? Even if each naturally developed his own style. Dame Janet became so associated with this work and is unique. However I am fond of other recordings too. Gladys Ripley is great at painting with the words and sings with a lovely legato and tone. Her high notes are less powerful than Dame Janet's, but she is a contralto and those notes are still precisely placed. I also love Marilyn Horne slipping down the scale in the Sea Slumber Song - a very different reading

@TheModernMillennial 6 жыл бұрын

I prefer the Gladys Ripley 1954 recording over JB's rendition.

@davidgamache3035 6 жыл бұрын

And don't forget that Elgar's violin concerto is arguably the best of the lot. At least a tie with Beethoven, Brahms and Mendelssohn.

@jamessmith5433 2 жыл бұрын

And don’t forget the glorious Dream of Gerontius, acknowledged by anyone who knows anything as one of the great choral works. And also with a legendary recording by Baker and Sir John

@phbarnes 9 жыл бұрын

So evocative and transporting. And the perfect voice to take us there.

@55archduke Жыл бұрын

Stipulating the marvelous nature of this performance, I recently head Marilyn Horne say that while "Where Corals Lie" with the most crowd-pleasing song in the cycle, "The Swimmer" was actually the "greatest."

@adrianleverkuehn9832 Ай бұрын

Probably. I wonder if most listeners grasp the text of "The Swimmer." (It's not exactly about Hope and Glory...). Elgar was bold to set it!

@davy91101 7 жыл бұрын

The comment that Baker hated these songs is difficult to believe given the superb technical level of her singing and the the artistic nuance and sensitivity she brings to each song. If Baker had felt negatively towards this music I doubt that she would have committed it to record, Even then her reputation was legendary; if you have documentation please provide it!

@richardfield6801 7 жыл бұрын

Hi davy, see the later comments to my post.

@irenekohenoff6175 7 жыл бұрын

Thanks for that recording, splendid and lyric, owing to the magic voice of Dame Janet Baker, marvellous translater of these musical poems, so sweet in her song, flewing along melodies in deep harmony with the orchestra conducted by such a master !! What a complicity between the two of us ! It is a perfection, immediately accessible to everybody loving music, but also so british, even if Mahler is never very far from Elgar's way he married the voice and the instruments ! Thanks for this moment, illuminating a gloom day ... I.K.

@rollingthunder4 4 жыл бұрын

I think of this when watching the sea for bird migration particularly during Autumn passage and the weather is rough and breezy👍🏻

@MrSwifts31 7 жыл бұрын

Just who are the (10 at the moment) who gave thumbs down to this iconic recording?Personally I think they do it just to stir up trouble?

@alanwill4318 9 жыл бұрын

Incomparable, love to hear Jamie Barton's version of Sea Pictures alas it' not on record yet.

@hjd832 5 жыл бұрын

Very beautiful, moving....

@FourfuxAche 7 жыл бұрын

Superb! Helped along with so many great names

@marcellajones4562 9 жыл бұрын

Some of my most favorite songs ever! Thanks for the reminder!!!

@raymondgood2359 7 жыл бұрын

my mother's name was marcelle jones!!

@rewcorkett5754 6 жыл бұрын

I wish I could get one of my poems set to music. I'd settle for some busker but Richard Garnett ( where Coral's lie) achieved imortality with Elgar's setting & Janet Baker's interpretation of Garnett's poem.

@arnoldamaral7406 5 жыл бұрын

Rew Corkett Forge ahead my friend Forge ahead you have a gift use it wisely indeed use it wisely. Sincerely Arnold Bourbon Amaral 🌍🌏🌎🇩🇪🇷🇺🇬🇧🇺🇸🇫🇷🇮🇹

@graveurgraveur2691 5 жыл бұрын

I thank you Dame Janet

@FranciscoFerrerGaliana1930 8 жыл бұрын

Maravilloso

@galas062 10 жыл бұрын

thank you!!!

@diannespence5999 7 жыл бұрын

a most authentic interpretation of these songs.

@alanbradshaw9766 Жыл бұрын

the finest recording never surpassed

@colincampbell4758 Жыл бұрын

I have to desist of this artistry now, as it reduces me to a sobbing wretch...

@pedrojoaquimdebarroscastro2268 5 ай бұрын

Marvelous

@primitivohernandez7333 Жыл бұрын

Sublime!!!

@huwedwards5661 7 жыл бұрын

This is so special!

@FranciscoFerrerGaliana1930 8 жыл бұрын

Sencillamente exquisito

@hardykleidt4067 6 жыл бұрын

wundervoll!!!

@pollyphillips1682 5 ай бұрын

Sublime

@lorenzosyquia8885 8 жыл бұрын

Yes

@williamotoole3282 8 жыл бұрын

Love that woman

@bradleysmith4409 6 жыл бұрын

So fine... I especially love the Browning...

@bradleysmith4409 6 жыл бұрын

"He who brooded soft on waters drear...Creator on Creation" Wonderful poetry!

@AlainArvelo 10 жыл бұрын

GilPiotr, what happened to your channel?! it used to be the go to for great art song/song cycle performances. I hope with this, you're bringing it all back.

@GilPiotr 10 жыл бұрын

KZfaq started to block my videos-I will try to bring all back, but I need some time to do this:P

@williamotoole3282 8 жыл бұрын

An honour

@yuehchopin 4 жыл бұрын

Große Stimme, Hochachtung!

@davidrehak3539 4 жыл бұрын

Edward Elgar:Tengeri képek Op.37 1. Sea Slumber-Song (Tengeri Álom Dal,Andantino) 00:00 2. In Haven (Capri) (A menedékben (Capri), Allegretto) 05:04 3. Sabbath Morning at Sea (Szombat reggel a tengeren, Moderato) 07:10 4. Where Coralis Lis (Ahol a korallok hazudnak, Allegretto, ma non troppo) 13:30 5. The Swimmer (A Úszó, Allegro di molto) 17:42 Janet Baker-mezzoszoprán Londoni Szimfonikus Zenekar Vezényel:Sir John Barbirolli

@redrocket5183 3 жыл бұрын

more- kzfaq.info/get/bejne/g6-RYLl-1bG6oJc.html Alvabjorg755 Janet Baker : Full Circle" - Her Last Year in Opera - 1982 (excerpt) - Full Lenght: 75 mins. theguardian.com/culture/2012/jul/13/janet-baker-life-in-writing Janet Baker: A life in music 'The music emerges from a place in your gut that is completely your idea of how to serve the composer and the poet so there is no hiding place'

@pvanderveen2762 Жыл бұрын

wat n stem!! inderdaad historisch maar onvergetijk

@ransomcoates546 3 жыл бұрын

I was surprised to hear her say that in a sense her career was ruined for herself by terrible stage fright. Who would think she had anything in common with Corelli - aside from both being very great singers.

@marcellajones4562 9 жыл бұрын

That last was Kimberlyn Jones, not Marcella.

@tstsullivan 9 жыл бұрын

Janet Baker was absolutley the best in this song cycle. Yes, the lyrics are lame, but the music is Elgar at his best.

@MrSwifts31 9 жыл бұрын

The problem might be that they are all by different people:~ "Sea Slumber Song" by Roden Noel "In Haven (Capri)" by Caroline Alice Elgar, the composer's wife "Sabbath Morning at Sea" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning "Where Corals Lie" by Richard Garnett "The Swimmer" by Adam Lindsay Gordon

@galas062 9 жыл бұрын

tstsullivan lyrics are not lame....you are wrong....

@tstsullivan 9 жыл бұрын

they are unbelievably lame, even at the time they were doggerel

@galas062 9 жыл бұрын

tstsullivan you are so lame yourself....LOL get off the cross someone needs the wood back..LOL .

@tstsullivan 9 жыл бұрын

what kind of a bullshit comment is that???

@cringedaddy4838 7 жыл бұрын

Beautiful, uh does the title mean Edward Elgar?

@rewcorkett5754 6 жыл бұрын

CringeDaddy483 ???

@starnafin 4 жыл бұрын

I wonder if any mezzo will sing this song cycle better.

@m0408 8 жыл бұрын

e minor

@richardfield6801 7 жыл бұрын

The irony is that Janet Baker hated these songs. She still managed to give a performance of them which stands unsurpassed even today.

@MrSwifts31 7 жыл бұрын

I will ask Janet and get back to you.I have known her for 50 years,and never heard her say she hated these songs,where did you get that from?

@louislungbubble 7 жыл бұрын

I have read this as well.............please let us know ,I am very interested also..

@MrSwifts31 7 жыл бұрын

Janet still has a busy schedule,so it may take a while to get back to you,But I will.I would still like to know who or where stated that Janet hated these songs?

@louislungbubble 7 жыл бұрын

I cant recall where I read this , it was a few years ago but I do remember considering what I read at the time. thank you for your interest...I had this recording of "where corals lie" played at my Mothers funeral as a matter of fact. My Father used to play Sea pictures regularly on a week end afternoon when I was boy............

@richardfield6801 7 жыл бұрын

Hi AP. No I can't recall where I read it either. It was probably in one of the UK music magazines, though I cannot say for sure. If I recall, I will post. Like LLB I'd be very interested to hear if Janet has any comment to make on this. I first heard her recording of these songs back in the 1970s, and fell in love, both with the songs (despite the lyrics) and with her voice. (Edit: I've just checked my 2004 CD booklet which states: "she admitted in a recent interview, she never regarded it as her favourite piece of music. 'I think "Corals " and "Sabbath Morning at Sea" are beautiful. But, you see, the genius of JB (Barbirolli) was that he believed in it, so you believed in it too and at the time of our recording I did believe in it.' This makes more sense. It may well be that we have a case of Chinese whispers here, where the writer of the comment I read failed to check the exact quote and put it in much stronger terms.)