Dame Janet Baker (mezzo-soprano and alto)

Renowned opera singer knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for her services to music.

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Famous for singing roles origionally done by Castrati. Castrati were male singers who were castrated before puberty so that their voices wouldn't change. The Castrati sound combined the purity of a boy's voice, with the lung power and control of a full-grown male voice. Because this practice has been outlawed, today only women can sing in the range of a castrato role. Baker specialized in this type of role and became very famous for it.

info taken from http://www.imdb.com