Born: December 10, 1952 - Statesville, North Carolina, USA

Of her unique artistry The Washington Post wrote that the American soprano, Julianne Baird, has “one of the most extraordinary voices in the service of early music that this generation has produced. She possesses a natural musicianship which engenders singing of supreme expressive beauty."

Julianne Baird holds two degrees from the Eastman School of Music (voice & musicology) and a Diploma in Performance Practice from Nikolaus Harnoncourt of the Salzburg Mozarteum, as well as Ph.D. in music history from Stanford University.

A soloist with the Waverly Consort, Pomerium Musices, Badinage, and Concert Royale, Julianne Baird made her New York Philharmonic debut in the premiere of the orchestral version of Steve Reich’s Tehillim. Julianne Baird is in constant demand for solo recitals and for performances of baroque opera and oratorio. She has also appeared as soloist with many major symphony orchestras including the Cleveland Orchestra under Christoph von Dohnanyi, the Brooklyn Philharmonic under Lukas Foss and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra under Zubin Mehta, the San Francisco Symphony under Nicholas McGegan and the English Baroque Soloists under John Eliot Gardiner. James R. Oestreich, in his comprehensive survey of New York's seasonal performances of Händel's Messiah for the New York Times, recently concluded with special praise for Julianne Baird's interpretative skills: "in that respect, Ms. Baird remains the model".

Recent performances include appearances at the International Lufthansa Festival in London in solo cantatas of J.S. Bach and at Tanglewood's Ozawa Hall in the Mozart Requiem, Bach’s Magnificat (BWV 243) in Bach’s own Thomaskirche in Leipzig, and at the International Wroclaw Festival of Song in Warsaw in September. In December 2000 she is scheduled to appear with the Philadelphia Orchestra.

With nearly 100 recordings to her credit on Decca, Deutsche Gramophone, Newport Classics and Dorian, Julianne Baird is considered one of America’s most recorded women. In addition to her major roles in the acclaimed series of Händel operatic and oratorio premiers on Newport Classics, she has recently released a new solo album titled "Glorious Händel". The New York Philharmonic's valedictory to 20^th century soloists includes her recording of Reich’s Tehillim. Just released (July, 2000) is "Dance on a Moonbeam", the last recording of Bill Crofut, a collaborative effort to benefit children’s charities featuring Julianne Baird, Meryl Streep, Frederica von Stade, and Dawn Upshaw. Her latest CD from Dorian Records, “Shakespeare’s Music" was released April, 2000.

Julianne Baird is an active teacher and scholar. Her publications include "Introduction to the Art of Singing", from Cambridge University Press. Recognized internationally as one of the few who can both demonstrate the full range of the singer's art and explain it - Dr. Baird is regularly asked to provide master classes at universities and music schools throughout North America. She also reaches large audiences through regional and national broadcasts including a recent featured interview on Terry Gross' internationally syndicated "Fresh Air".

More Pictures

Source: Rutgers University in Camden, New Jersey; Liner notes to Nonesuch CD 9-79036-2 (Mass in B minor, conducted by Rifkin, 1982); Liner notes to Koch International Classics CD 3-7235-2 (Cantatas BWV 182, BWV 131 & BWV 4, conducted by Jeffrey Thomas, 1995); Liner notes to Music-Masters CD 67119-2 (Baroque Christmas from the Metropolitan Museum, Julianne Baird & The Aulos Ensemble, 1994)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (April 2001)

Recordings of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

Conductor

As

Works

Under her name

Soprano

Arias from BWV 68, BWV 84, BWV 151 (w/ Aulos Ensemble)

Under her name

Soprano

Arias from BWV 61, BWV 82a, BWV 100, BWV 208, BWV 244, BWV 248, BWV 508 [w/ Baroque Chamber Ensemble & Emily Newbold (flute)]

Anthony Newman

Soprano

BWV 245

Valentin Radu

Soprano

BWV 232, BWV 243

Joshua Rifkin

Soprano

BWV 8, BWV 51, BWV 78, BWV 99, BWV 140, BWV 202, BWV 209, BWV 232

Kenneth Slowik

Soprano

BWV 245 [w/ Smithsonian Chamber Players]

Jeffrey Thomas

Soprano

BWV 8, BWV 12, BWV 18, BWV 51, BWV 61, BWV 131, BWV 232 [w/ American Bach Soloists]

Links to other Sites

Julianne Baird's Home Page

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