Hendricks was born in Stephens, Arkansas. She graduated from the University of Nebraska with a bachelor's degree in mathematics and chemistry at the age of 20. She then attended Juilliard School of Music in New York, where she studied with mezzo-soprano Jennie Tourel and graduated with a bachelor's degree in music.
In 1974, Hendricks made her professional operatic debut in Europe at the Glyndebourne Festival and in America at the San Francisco Opera. During her career, she has appeared at all major opera houses throughout the world, including the Paris Opera, the Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera House at Covent Garden, and La Scala. In 1998 she sang Liu in the historical performance of Turandot at the Forbidden City in Beijing.
Hendricks has performed more than twenty roles, twelve of which she has recorded.
Hendricks has also appeared in film as Mimi in La Bohème, and in 1994 she participated in an international prize-winning film production of The Rake's Progress singing Anne Truelove.
Hendricks also performs jazz music and made her jazz debut at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1994. Since that time, she has played at major jazz festivals around the world. Hendricks is also known for her love of chamber music and has organized a number of chamber music festivals.
Joy to the World
Barbara Hendricks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Que la tierra recibir a su Rey;
Que cada corazón prepararlo habitación Él,
Y el cielo y la naturaleza cantan,
Y el cielo y la naturaleza cantan,
Y el cielo, y el cielo y la naturaleza cantan.
Alegría para el mundo, el Salvador reina!
Deje que los hombres emplean sus canciones;
Repita la alegría que suena,
Repita la alegría que suena,
Repetir, repetir, la alegría que suena.
Él gobierna el mundo con la verdad y la gracia,
Y hace que las naciones prueben
Las glorias de su justicia,
Y maravillas de su amor,
Y maravillas de su amor,
Y maravillas, prodigios, de su amor.
The lyrics to Barbara Hendricks's song "Joy to the World" are a celebration of the arrival of Christ and the joy it brings to the world. The opening line, "Alegría para el mundo, el Señor ha venido!" translates to "Joy to the world, the Lord has come!" This line sets the tone for the entire song, conveying the excitement and anticipation felt by Christians around the world. The following lines urge the earth to welcome its king, Christ, and for every heart to prepare a place for Him. The song then describes the joy that resounds from heaven and nature in welcome of Christ's arrival.
Line by Line Meaning
Alegría para el mundo, el Señor ha venido!
The Lord has come to bring joy to the world!
Que la tierra recibir a su Rey;
Let the earth welcome its king;
Que cada corazón prepararlo habitación Él,
May every heart prepare Him a dwelling place,
Y el cielo y la naturaleza cantan,
And the sky and nature sing,
Y el cielo y la naturaleza cantan,
And the sky and nature sing,
Y el cielo, y el cielo y la naturaleza cantan.
And the sky, and the sky and nature sing.
Alegría para el mundo, el Salvador reina!
The Savior reigns, bringing joy to the world!
Deje que los hombres emplean sus canciones;
Let men use their songs;
Mientras que los campos y las inundaciones, las rocas, colinas y llanuras
While the fields, floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repita la alegría que suena,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repita la alegría que suena,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repetir, repetir, la alegría que suena.
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
Él gobierna el mundo con la verdad y la gracia,
He rules the world with truth and grace,
Y hace que las naciones prueben
And makes the nations prove
Las glorias de su justicia,
The glories of His righteousness,
Y maravillas de su amor,
And wonders of His love,
Y maravillas de su amor,
And wonders of His love,
Y maravillas, prodigios, de su amor.
And wonders, wonders of His love.
Contributed by Declan A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.