Dr. Dalton Baldwin
Pianist Dalton Baldwin (1931-2019) was the Dean of American Collaborative Pianists. He began his musical training at the Juilliard School and then went to the Oberlin Conservatory of Music where he earned the bachelor of music degree. He continued his studies in Paris with Nadia Boulanger and Madeleine Lipatti, and in 1954 he began his long and successful partnership with Gérard Souzay. Mr. Baldwin was the permanent pianist of Gérard Souzay for over three decades, during which time they toured extensively on five continents and made numerous prize-winning recordings. Several of these have recently been released on compact disc to critical acclaim. The New York Times review of April 1995 cited their partnership as a “musical marriage made in heaven.” He had a wonderful control of dynamics and never allowed the piano to overshadow the singer.
In 1970 he also began to perform on a regular basis with Elly Ameling, and in the mid-1970’s he began an association with Jessye Norman both on stage and in the recording studio. He accompanied Arleen Augér’s first New York recital in 1984 and recorded an award-winning disc of Love Songs with her. Concentrating primarily on the song repertoire, Baldwin has been coached by composers including Poulenc and Frank Martin. He has played many world premieres, notably Rorem’s War Scenes in 1969 with Souzay. He has accompanied many singers including Mady Mesple, Edda Moser, Jennie Tourel, Marilyn Horne, Frederica von Stade, Nicolai Gedda, José van Dam, William Parker, Norah Amsellem, and Steven Kimbrough. Touring with these artists has brought Baldwin to all the major music capitals of the world.
Dalton Baldwin has made over one hundred recordings of song recitals and has won numerous prizes for his work with Elly Ameling and Gérard Souzay. In 1987 he was awarded the Croix de Commandant de l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres by the French government. He is best known for his playing of the French repertoire and has recorded the complete songs of Debussy, Fauré, Poulenc, Ravel and Roussel with various artists. His recordings of Schubert and Schumann with Ameling and Souzay are also highly regarded. Although best known in partnership with singers, Dalton Baldwin has worked with violinist Henryk Szering and cellist Pierre Fournier.
In addition to his teaching in Princeton as a professor of accompanying and coaching at Westminster Choir College, he gave extended classes each year in Japan and at the Salzburg Mozarteum, the national conservatories of Madrid and Paris, and summer classes at the Nice Académie Internationale de Musique which he often taught in tandem with his close friend and colleague, Lorraine Nubar. Whenever possible, Baldwin often returned to places like the Himalayas and the wildlife preserves of Africa to replenish himself in natural beauty.
In 1970 he also began to perform on a regular basis with Elly Ameling, and in the mid-1970’s he began an association with Jessye Norman both on stage and in the recording studio. He accompanied Arleen Augér’s first New York recital in 1984 and recorded an award-winning disc of Love Songs with her. Concentrating primarily on the song repertoire, Baldwin has been coached by composers including Poulenc and Frank Martin. He has played many world premieres, notably Rorem’s War Scenes in 1969 with Souzay. He has accompanied many singers including Mady Mesple, Edda Moser, Jennie Tourel, Marilyn Horne, Frederica von Stade, Nicolai Gedda, José van Dam, William Parker, Norah Amsellem, and Steven Kimbrough. Touring with these artists has brought Baldwin to all the major music capitals of the world.
Dalton Baldwin has made over one hundred recordings of song recitals and has won numerous prizes for his work with Elly Ameling and Gérard Souzay. In 1987 he was awarded the Croix de Commandant de l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres by the French government. He is best known for his playing of the French repertoire and has recorded the complete songs of Debussy, Fauré, Poulenc, Ravel and Roussel with various artists. His recordings of Schubert and Schumann with Ameling and Souzay are also highly regarded. Although best known in partnership with singers, Dalton Baldwin has worked with violinist Henryk Szering and cellist Pierre Fournier.
In addition to his teaching in Princeton as a professor of accompanying and coaching at Westminster Choir College, he gave extended classes each year in Japan and at the Salzburg Mozarteum, the national conservatories of Madrid and Paris, and summer classes at the Nice Académie Internationale de Musique which he often taught in tandem with his close friend and colleague, Lorraine Nubar. Whenever possible, Baldwin often returned to places like the Himalayas and the wildlife preserves of Africa to replenish himself in natural beauty.