Jan DeGaetani

about

Jan (Janice) DeGaetani (July 10, 1933 – September 15, 1989) was an American mezzo-soprano known for her performances of contemporary classical vocal compositions. DeGaetani was born in Massillon, Ohio and educated at The Juilliard School with Sergius Kagen, she was best known for her wide range, precise pitch, clear tone, and command of extended techniques that made her voice perfectly suited to the demanding style of modern and avant-garde vocal composition. Her recording of Schoenberg's song cycle Pierrot lunaire is one of the classic recordings of the piece - due to its use of atonality, wide range, and virtuoso techniques such as sprechstimme, all while requiring a lyrical sensibility, it is exceptionally difficult to sing. Her collaboration with George Crumb was also a fruitful one; she premiered his song cycle Ancient Voices of Children, and many of his other works were written for her. Uncommonly for a singer of her caliber (though her voice was not as powerful as most), DeGaetani rarely appeared in opera, instead concentrating on solo recital work in the art song literature. Her talent at foreign languages also made her an accomplished interpreter of lieder; she sang and recorded works by composers such as Hugo Wolf, Hector Berlioz, and Gustav Mahler and was noted for her intelligence and skillful analytical interpretation. Her interpretive skills also lent themselves to songs in her native tongue of English, such as Aaron Copland's 12 Poems of Emily Dickinson, an

top songs

albums

Eastman American Music Series, Vol. 5

▥

French Songs: Chausson, Debussy, Ravel

▥

Songs by Stephen Foster, Vol. 1-2

▥

Schoenberg: Pierrot Lunaire; Book Of Hanging Gardens

▥

Charles Ives: Songs

Ives: 114 Songs - George Crumb: Apparition

▥

Russian Songs - Rachmaninoff, Mussorgsky, Tchaikovsky

▥

Aaron Copland: 81st Birthday Concert

▥

Franz Schubert: Songs - Hugo Wolf: Songs From The Spanisches Liederbuch

Songs of Charles Ives and George Crumb

▥

Jan DeGaetani in Concert, Vol. 1 (Live)

▥

Crumb: Idyll for the Misbegotten/Vox Balaenae/Madrigals

similar artists