Talk:Janet Baker

This is a really fine entry. I need more information to identify "Miss Róza in The Secret." Whose opera is this? Wetman 08:17, 15 Feb 2004 (UTC)

Sorry, I can find no more information about this opera on the Net. Maybe user:Camembert can look it up; he seems to have access to various reference works.

I have a question for you: what do you think is the proper tense to use when talking about retired singers: past or present. Reread first sentence in article please: does it sound as though she is dead already? -- Viajero 12:44, 15 Feb 2004 (UTC)

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Deb, Poppaea redirects to Poppaea Sabina, which has nothing to do with Monteverdi. Poppaea is not the name of an opera; it is the title role in the opera The Coronation of Poppaea. -- Viajero 18:57, 15 Feb 2004 (UTC)

Sorry, I always assumed that "The Coronation of Poppaea" was about the coronation of Poppaea Sabina. Deb 19:09, 15 Feb 2004 (UTC)

No, I am sure it is. But to link to it from from a reference to a role in an opera, albeit on that subject, is too big conceptual jump IMO, at least in this context. Or am I mistaken? I am trying to think of an analogy. For example, if we wrote that so-and-so sang Richard Nixon in Stuttgart, in reference to a performance of Nixon in China, would we link this to Richard Nixon? I think not. -- Viajero 19:34, 15 Feb 2004 (UTC)

One more thing: are you an opera fan? If not, you may not be aware of the convention of referring to the names roles rather than the operas themselves; it is a kind of shorthand. For example, one might say: so-and-so sang Violetta, Elizabeta, Donna Elvira, and Rosina... rather than Violetta in La Traviata etc. I would not normally link those role names to historical figures if they were to exist. -- Viajero 19:40, 15 Feb 2004 (UTC)

I understand where you are coming from - I was being facetious, sorry. Having said that, I think there is an argument for linking, for example, from a book or film about a historical character (even if mostly fictional) to the article on that character -- and it is frequently done. But I agree, if there is an article about the opera, then it is better to link to that article. Would you agree that it would also be a good idea to link from the article about the opera to the historical character, and maybe also to mention, in the article about Poppaea Sabina, that there is a famous opera based on her story? Deb 21:44, 15 Feb 2004 (UTC)

Outside the opera house

If anyone's tracking this page - two questions. 1. Isnt she a DBE now? 2. the intro mentions Mahler and Elgar, and then just discusses her opera career. What about the concert hall? I personally remember being a few feet away from her at a Prom (this would have been late 60's, maybe 1970) when she gave a stunning performance of Das Lied, and of course her Angel with Barbirolli is iconic. I'd throw it in, but I'll wait a few days to see if someone who know a little more detail about her concert-hall career wants to pipe up. DavidBrooks 05:53, 9 Dec 2004 (UTC)

Where is she now?

Maybe a superfulous question but where is she now since dropping out of the artistic world? Whilst typing this I am listening to her singing Elgars Sea Pictures what a voice!