Composer: Samuel Barber
Performer: Barbara Hendricks
Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra, Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Leonard Slatkin, Michael Tilson Thomas
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: EMI
Catalogue: 2066252
Release: 2008
Size: 303 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover
01. Adagio for Strings, Op. 11
02. Knoxville: Summer of 1915, Op. 24
Violin Concerto, Op. 14
03. I. Allegro
04. II. Andante
05. III. Presto in moto perpetuo
06. Overture to The School for Scandal, Op. 5
07. First Essay for Orchestra Op. 12
08. Medea’s Dance of Vengeance, Op.32a
Samuel Barber (1910-1981) is best-known today for his Adagio for Strings, which was originally written as the slow movement for an early string quartet, and has become one of most played pieces of classical music. The Adagio was first perfomed in its orchestral form by Toscanini, with the Essay for Orchestra in the same concert. These works are typical of Barber’s output, being overtly European in outlook and language.Barber composed music in most genres: two symphonies; concertos for piano, cello and violin, two grand operas; ballets; choral works; chamber music and a great number of songs. This selection of works includes the beautifully reflective Knoxville: Summer 1915, written to a sensitive text from James Agee’s unfinished novel A Death in the Family. Also included is the Violin Concerto with it’s lovely slow movement and the Overture to a School for Scandal, which was the first of Barber’s works to be performed by a major orchestra.
