Julianne Baird
Voice/Instrument: | Soprano |
Biography
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 Georg Frideric Handel'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, J.S. 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 G.F. Handel operatic and oratorio premiers on Newport Classics, she has recently released a new solo album titled "Glorious Handel". The New York Philharmonic's valedictory to 20th 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".