Description

GEORGE BAKER (BIRKENHEAD, 10 FEBRUARY, 1885 – HEREFORD, 8 JANUARY, 1976)

He served as organist and choirmaster in Cheshire starting in 1901 and held similar posts at two churches in Birkenhead in 1903 and 1906. After studying for three years with John Acton in London, he became a student at the Royal Conservatory of Music, where he earned his master’s degree in 1911. In 1914, he went to Milan for advanced training, which paved the way for a distinguished career as a concert singer in England, performing primarily at major English music festivals.

His international tours included Australia in 1922-23, the USA and Canada in 1927-28, South Africa in 1937, Holland in 1937 and 1947, and the USA again in 1939-40. Although he occasionally performed in opera with the English National Opera and the Carl Rosa Company, concert singing remained his primary focus. From 1944 to 1947, he served as director of the BBC London’s overseas music program, and from 1934 to 1948, he was treasurer of the Royal Philharmonic Society. As a music critic and writer, he contributed numerous articles to prominent English newspapers. His published works include This Singing Business (1947) and A Career in Music (1950).

TRACKLIST

1. a) HMS Pinafore Entr’acte Sullivan; b) HMS Pinafore Fair moon, to thee I sing (Gilbert Sullivan) HMV Cc 18643-2 -5A 32-1514
2. a) HMS Pinafore My gallant crew … I am the Captain of the Pinafore (Gilbert Sullivan) HMV Cc 18637-1 -4A 32-1507
3. Carmen (Bizet) Toreador song C-01004 Vocalion, London
4. Eastward Ho! Runaway heart (Torrens) with Violet Loraine HMV 04270 HO 4083 af
5. Everybody’s crazy on the fox trot (Bennett Scott) HMV 4-2676  HO 2129 ab
6. Forza del destino (Veri) Solenne in quest’ora (w. Lenghi-Cellini) A-0170 Vocalion, London
7. Hiawatha-Death of Minnehaha 8.Farewell said He Minnehaha HMV C 2213 CR 2907-2
8. HMS Pinafore Things are seldom what they seem (Gilbert Sullivan) with Bertha Lewis HMV Cc 18638-1 32-1515
9. It was a lover and his lass (Walthew) with Carrie Herwin Columbia A1617 28721
10. More Very Young Songs (a) Us Two (b) Knights and Ladies (Fraser-Simson) HMV B 3178 30-1023
11. Rigoletto (Verdi) Bella figlia dell’amore with Leonora Sparkes, Carrie Herwin and Joseph Cheetham Pathé 886 59496
12. Song-Cycle – In a Persian Garden (Liza Lehmann) (p. Adami) HMV E 181 4-2767
13. The Bing Boys on Broadway Day after day (Nat D Ayer) with Violet Loraine HMV 04227 HO 3129 af
14. The Bing Boys on Broadway First love, last love (Nat D Ayer) with Violet Loraine HMV 04226 HO 3127 af
15. The song that reached my heart (Julian Jordan) with Carrie Herwin Pathé 5355 952063
16. There’s a long; long trail a-winding (Elliott) HMV 4-2675 HO 2083 ab
17. Trovatore (Verdi) Il balen (Eng) C-01005 Vocalion, London
18. Whisper and I shall hear (Piccolomini) with Carrie Herwin Columbia A1617