Julianne Baird
Distinguished Professor of Music
Director of Madrigal Ensemble
Ph.D. Stanford University
jbaird@camden.rutgers.edu
juliannebaird.camden.rutgers.edu
(856) 225-6210
Fine Arts Building, Rm. 211
Biography
Julianne Baird, soprano, has been hailed as “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.” She maintains a busy concert schedule of solo recitals and performances of baroque opera and oratorio.
Ms. Baird has also appeared as soloist with many major symphony orchestras including the Cleveland Orchestra under Christoph von Dohnanyi, the Brooklyn Philharmonic under Lukas Foss, the New York Philharmonic under Zubin Mehta and, in the 2000-2001 season, the Philadelphia Orchestra. James R. Oestreich, in his comprehensive survey of New York’s seasonal performances of Handel’s Messiah for the N.Y. Times, recently concluded with special praise for Julianne Baird’s interpretative skills: “in that respect, Ms. Baird remains the model”.
Julianne Baird’s performances include appearances at the International Lufthansa Festival in London in solo cantatas of Johann Sebastian Bach and at Tanglewood’s Ozawa Hall in the Mozart Requiem, Bach’s Magnificat in Bach’s own Thomaskirche in Leipzig, and at the International Wroclaw Festival of Song in Warsaw in September. In April, 2002 she is scheduled to appear in Symphony Hall, Chicago in Haydn’s Creation and in May in the Kennedy Center.
With over 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 Handel operatic and oratorio premieres, she has a new solo album titled “Glorious Handel.” The New York Philharmonic’s recent commemorative box set to it’s century of recordings includes her recording of Reich’s “Tehillim”. Other new recordings include “Dance on a Moonbeam”, featuring Julianne Baird, Meryl Streep, and Frederica von Stade and “Passionate Pavanes.’ Deidamia–the last opera of George Frederic–with Julianne Baird in which she sings the title role.
Julianne Baird is an active teacher and scholar, with degrees from the Eastman School and a Diploma from the Salzburg Mozarteum in performance. She also earned a PhD in music history from Stanford University. 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”.