A Tribute to George Baker
This 1970 disc features recordings by the great George Baker, who never appeared on stage with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, but who nevertheless appeared on more G&S complete sets in the 78rpm era than any other singer. Baker was favored for his superb diction, which was perfectly suited to the then-primitive recording technology. This recording gives an excellent idea of his art. Selections include:
| Side 1 | Side 2 |
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| Date | Label | Format | Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | EMI | LP | HQM 1200 |
[THE GRAMOPHONE, February 1970, (Vol. XLVII); pg. 1326]
George Baker's recording career covers well over half a century. It is sixty years since he made his first record and only seven since he made his last, and even his 1962 Gilbert and Sullivan recording did not end his active career as a singer. On June 11th, 1966, when he was 81, he took part in a costume performance of Trial by Jury given in the Royal Festival Hall and which was broadcast. The last time I saw and spoke to him was at the Gerald Moore 70th birthday party, when he was in splendid form.
It may be doubted if there has ever been a more versatile singer. He was one of the principals in the first English recordings of the Choral Symphony of Beethoven, Parsifal and Hiawatha, he has recorded innumerable Gilbert and Sullivan roles, some of them several times, he sang in opera and was a musical comedy star, and his appearances on the platform and on records in English songs simply cannot be counted. He was also the immensely popular "Uncle George" in a group of early records for children. One of the secrets of his versatility is, as he said to me only three or four years ago, that to him there are only two kinds of music, good and bad. In his excellent sleeve-note, Peter Gammond lists eight pseudonyms under which Mr. Baker made records and I doubt whether even the singer himself is quite sure that this is the full total.
The recordings here range from 1916 to 1933. With any other singer one would say that being between 31 and 48 they reveal him in his prime, but George Baker would seem to have reached his prime before 1916 and certainly continued in it until long after 1933. Indeed, if put to the test I doubt if he is past it even now! Choice of songs in such an anthology as this must inevitably be a very personal matter. All the songs chosen here are thoroughly worthy of inclusion but I myself should have preferred a little less of Sullivan to make room for more of the other songs which he sings so well. But I do not complain. The rich, ripe voice, sensitive artistry, and above all impeccable diction are as I remember them from the very early days of his career. More than forty years ago (July 1929) he wrote an article on diction for The Gramophone. Many of today's singers would do well to read it, as they would also his book, This Singing Business, of about 20 years later.
I hope that on February 10th many will raise a glass in their own homes and drink to the continued health and happiness of a great singer and a great man, who was for long the Honorary Secretary of the Savage Club and one time Honorary Treasurer and later Chairman of the Royal Philharmonic Society.
Artist Profile: George Baker
