Linfea / La Calisto / Opera NEO / 2019
Soprano Emily Baker brought welcome focus to Linfea, a member of Diana’s entourage who, like her fearless leader, has signed on to the virginity pact but really wants a man.
-Ken Herman, San Diego Story
Aïda / “Su! del nilo…” from Aïda @ NEO Cabaret / OPera Neo / 2019
“Su! Del Nilo al sacro lido” from the first act of Aïda with radiant power equal to the high onstage emotions from Emily Baker’s noble Aïda.
-Ken Herman, San Diego Story
Rosalinde / “Czárdás” from Die Fledermaus @ Aria Marathon / Opera Neo / 2019
Emily Baker set off fireworks in “Csárdás” from Johann Strauss, Jr.’s Die Fledermaus. With a bright and slightly edgy soprano, her fiery account ended in a glass-shattering final cadence.
-Ken Herman, San Diego Story
Praskowia / The Merry Widow / Opera NEO / 2018
Their not so bemused wives, sopranos Madeline O’Meara as Sylviane, Alexandra Prat as Olga, and Emily Baker as Praskowia brought depth and vocal radiance to their roles.
-Ken Herman, San Diego Story
Lisa / “Wer hat die Liebe uns ins Herz gesenkt” from Das Land des Lächelns @ NEO Cabaret / 2018
Emily Baker’s ample, gleaming soprano complemented Najmi in their sumptuous duet “Love, what has given you this magic power?” from The Land of Smiles, one of those trademark romantic lyrical effusions that guaranteed the composer the loyalty of his audiences, regardless of the creaky plots they embroidered.
-Ken Herman, San Diego Story
Poulenc’s “Les chemins de l’amour” @ NEO Cabaret / 2018
Although I eagerly confess that Francis Poulenc’s “Les chemins de l’amour” is one of my favorite songs, what was it doing on a program of excerpts from staged productions? It is just a chanson, and dividing it between two singers did not help it in any way. Emily Baker nailed it from the first phrase, and she should have sung the entire song. I woke up this morning with her delicious phrases still lingering in my brain.
-Ken Herman, San Diego Story
Rosalinde / “Czárdás” from Die Fledermaus @ Aria Marathon / Opera Neo / 2018
Soprano Emily Baker will sing Praskowia in Opera NEO’s The Merry Widow, and from her stylish, animated account of “Klänge der Heimat” from another beloved operetta, Die Fledermaus, we can expect a scintillating performance.
-Ken Herman, San Diego Story
Micaëla / Carmen / Panopera / 2017
The role of Micaela was superbly inhabited by soprano Emily Baker. Her arias in Acts 1 and 3 were vocal highlights of the evening. The charming innocence of her character was enhanced by a forthright, even brilliance in her singing.
-Clifton Noble, Jr., MassLive