Samuel Barber

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Biography

Born: 1910   Died: 1981   Country: USA   Period: 20th Century
An open-hearted yet tough romantic, Samuel Barber was one of the few twentieth century American composers to fight for the primacy of lyricism. In his last decades he seemed to be losing the battle, but by the end of the century Barber had posthumously become one of America's most widely performed and recorded composers. In particular, his emotive Violin Concerto and Adagio for Strings have gained a popularity exceeded only by certain works of Read more Aaron Copland.

Barber entered the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia in 1924, where he met future opera composer Gian Carlo Menotti; the two would become lifelong lovers. Barber was an able pianist and a baritone of some talent, but he was an even more precocious composer. His 1933 Curtis graduation piece, the spirited School for Scandal Overture, has become a beloved concert opener.

Barber developed into America's most enduring composer of art songs; most popular is his tender setting for soprano and chamber orchestra of James Agee's Knoxville: Summer of 1915. Barber had unerring taste in texts, and his literary interests led him to compose some allusive short orchestral pieces. Yet he was particularly adept at writing abstract works, such as Music for a Scene from Shelley. Many of these are in large forms: two symphonies, one string quartet (from which was drawn the Adagio for Strings, first popularized by Arturo Toscanini), an ambitious piano sonata, and one concerto each for violin, cello, and piano. While following traditional formats, they are propelled by a dramatic expressivity that hadn't been fashionable since Sibelius. Equally direct in their emotional content are his three Essays for Orchestra, the second being the best crafted and most acclaimed.

Barber would have seemed an ideal composer for the stage, but he had limited success in that realm. Medea, a 1947 dance score for Martha Graham, has found greater longevity in orchestral excerpts. His 1958 Vanessa garnered him the first of two Pulitzer Prizes (the second was for his Piano Concerto), but, like most other American operas, it quickly dropped out of sight. Barber wrote Anthony and Cleopatra to open the new Metropolitan Opera House in 1966, but critical reaction was so hostile that he produced very little during his remaining 15 years. Barber was too conservative to be fashionable; his harmony could be astringent, but his tonality remained secure, his rhythms were strong and clear, and he was not above writing a good melody. Read less

Featured Samuel Barber CDs & DVDs:

Barber: Vanessa / Slatkin, Graham, Brewer, Et Al
Barber: Vanessa / Slatkin, Graham, Brewer, Et Al
Release Date: 11/09/2004   Label: Chandos  
Catalog: 5032   Number of Discs: 2
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1930s Violin Concertos Vol 1 - Barber, Hartmann, Berg, Stravinsky, Britten / Gil Shaham
1930s Violin Concertos Vol 1 - Barber, Hartmann, Berg, Stravinsky, Britten / Gil Shaham
Release Date: 02/25/2014   Label: Canary Classics  
Catalog: 12   Number of Discs: 2
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Barber, Shostakovich: Cello Concertos / Wallfisch, Simon
Barber, Shostakovich: Cello Concertos / Wallfisch, Simon
Release Date: 10/09/1992   Label: Chandos  
Catalog: 8322   Number of Discs: 1
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Barber: Symphony No 1; Beach: Gaelic Symphony / Järvi
Barber: Symphony No 1; Beach: Gaelic Symphony / Järvi
Release Date: 10/28/1992   Label: Chandos  
Catalog: 8958   Number of Discs: 1
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Barber, Bristow: Symphonies, Etc / Järvi, Detroit So
Barber, Bristow: Symphonies, Etc / Järvi, Detroit So
Release Date: 12/30/1993   Label: Chandos  
Catalog: 9169   Number of Discs: 1
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Work: Adagio for Strings, Op. 11

Browse 1-25 of 229 Available Recordings
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  • 1.
    The Only Classical Album You Will Ever Need
    The Only Classical Album You Will Ever Need
    Label: Vanguard   Catalog: 6706 Release Date: 12/31/2025   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Tomaso Albinoni,  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Samuel Barber
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  • 2.
    The Argo Years / Neville Marriner, Academy Of St Martin In The Fields [28-CD Set]
    The Argo Years / Neville Marriner, Academy Of St Martin In The Fields [28-CD Set]
    Label: Decca   Catalog: 002081902 Release Date: 06/03/2014   Number of Discs: 28
    Composer:  George Frideric Handel,  Arcangelo Corelli,  Giuseppe Torelli,  Pietro Antonio Locatelli  ... 
    Performer:  Gwynne Howell,  Philip Langridge,  Anna Reynolds,  Elly Ameling  ... 
    Conductor:  Sir Neville Marriner
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Academy of St. Martin in the Fields,  Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Chorus,  Philip Jones Brass Ensemble
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  • 3.
    Classic Fm Hall Of Fame 2014
    Label: Decca   Catalog: 1227072 Release Date: 04/29/2014   Number of Discs: 4
    Composer:  Gustav Holst,  Ralph Vaughan Williams,  Ludovico Einaudi,  Jean Sibelius  ... 
    Performer:  Nicola Benedetti,  Craig Ogden,  Ji Liu,  Henk Rubingh  ... 
    Conductor:  Zubin Mehta,  Andrew Litton,  Neeme Järvi,  Riccardo Chailly  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  I Musici
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  • 4.
    Leonard Bernstein Collection Vol 1 [59 CDs & 1 DVD]
    Leonard Bernstein Collection Vol 1 [59 CDs & 1 DVD]
    Label: Deutsche Grammophon   Catalog: 2027800 Release Date: 04/22/2014   Number of Discs: 60
    Composer:  Ludwig van Beethoven,  Johannes Brahms,  Leonard Bernstein,  Benjamin Britten  ... 
    Performer:  René Kollo,  Dame Gwyneth Jones,  Kurt Moll,  Hanna Schwarz  ... 
    Conductor:  Leonard Bernstein,  Michael Tilson Thomas,  Kent Nagano
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra,  Vienna State Opera Concert Choir,  Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra  ... 
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  • 5.
    American Journey / Murray, Heisser, Orchestre Poitou Charentes
    American Journey / Murray, Heisser, Orchestre Poitou Charentes
    Label: Mirare   Catalog: 244 Release Date: 04/08/2014   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Samuel Barber,  Leonard Bernstein,  George Gershwin,  Bernard Herrmann  ... 
    Performer:  Tai Murray,  Jean-François Heisser
    Conductor:  Jean-François Heisser
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Orchestre Poitou Charentes
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  • 6.
    100 Hits: Classical Greats
    100 Hits: Classical Greats
    Label: 100 Hits   Catalog: 1017490 Release Date: 02/25/2014   Number of Discs: 5
    Composer:  George Frideric Handel,  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Myra Hess,  Antonio Vivaldi  ... 
    Performer:  Geraint Jones,  Karl Münchinger,  Yehudi Menuhin,  Myra Hess  ... 
    Conductor:  Geraint Jones,  Karl Münchinger,  Yehudi Menuhin,  Leopold Stokowski  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  I Musici,  Members of the Vienna Octet (Members)
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  • 7.
    Great European Organs, No. 89 / Marco Lo Muscio
    Great European Organs, No. 89 / Marco Lo Muscio
    Label: Priory Records   Catalog: 1096 Release Date: 01/14/2014   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Samuel Barber,  Paolo Lazzeri,  Greg Lake,  Ralph Vaughan Williams  ... 
    Performer:  Marco Lo Muscio
    On sale! $22.98
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  • 8.
    The American Symphonic Organ / Jean-Baptiste Robin
    The American Symphonic Organ / Jean-Baptiste Robin
    Label: Brilliant Classics   Catalog: 94726 Release Date: 12/10/2013   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Claude Debussy,  Isaac Albeniz,  Béla Bartók,  Georges Bizet  ... 
    Performer:  Jean-Baptiste Robin,  STacey Rishoi
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  • 9.
    Now That's What I Call Relaxing Classical
    Label: Decca   Catalog: 1104380 Release Date: 12/03/2013   Number of Discs: 4
    Composer:  John Newton,  César Franck,  Ludovico Einaudi,  Franz Schubert  ... 
    Performer:  Il Divo,  The Priests,  Einaudi,  Jonathan & Charlotte  ... 
    On sale! $46.99
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  • 10.
    Berlin Philharmonic - Centenary Edition
    Berlin Philharmonic - Centenary Edition
    Label: Deutsche Grammophon   Catalog: 001923302 Release Date: 10/22/2013   Number of Discs: 50
    Composer:  Ludwig van Beethoven,  Hector Berlioz,  Richard Wagner,  Richard Strauss  ... 
    Performer:  Géza Anda,  Walter Berry,  Gundula Janowitz,  Hilde Rössl-Majdan  ... 
    Conductor:  Arthur Nikisch,  Alfred Hertz,  Richard Strauss,  Bruno Walter  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra,  Vienna Singverein,  Swedish Radio Chorus  ... 
    On sale! $149.98
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  • 11.
    Music Of Steel - Heroic Themes From The Movies
    Music Of Steel - Heroic Themes From The Movies
    Label: Decca   Catalog: 001871502 Release Date: 07/09/2013   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  John Williams,  Gioachino Rossini,  Richard Strauss,  Richard Wagner  ... 
    Performer:  Helga Dernesch,  Claudia Hellmann,  Marilyn Tyler,  Brigitte Fassbaender  ... 
    Conductor:  Riccardo Chailly,  Sir Georg Solti,  Stanley Black,  Antal Doráti  ... 
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  • 12.
    The Classic 100: Music In The Movies
    Label: Abc Classics   Catalog: 1139364 Release Date: 06/11/2013   Number of Discs: 4
    Composer:  Ennio Morricone,  John Williams,  Howard Shore,  Vangelis  ... 
    Performer:  Diana Doherty,  Mark Ayres,  Sally Herbert,  Roger Woodward  ... 
    Conductor:  Mark Summerbell,  Zubin Mehta,  Nic Raine,  Paul Bateman  ... 
    On sale! $75.99
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  • 13.
    The Real... Classical
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 3710032 Release Date: 05/27/2013   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Samuel Barber,  George Gershwin,  Modest Mussorgsky,  Sergei Rachmaninov  ... 
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  • 14.
    Clarinet Choir Classics
    Clarinet Choir Classics
    Label: Mark Custom Recording Service,   Catalog: 50193 Release Date: 03/26/2013   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Felix Mendelssohn,  Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov,  Ralph Vaughan Williams,  Samuel Barber  ... 
    Performer:  Jenny Maclay,  Piccolo Clarinet] Patrick [Clarinet Sikes,  Michael Tran,  Basset Horn] Keith [Clarinet (Alto) Northover  ... 
    Conductor:  Mitchell Estrin,  David Waybright
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  University of Florida Clarinet Ensemble
    CD: $9.99
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  • 15.
    Phoenix Rising / Margaret Lacy
    Phoenix Rising / Margaret Lacy
    Label: Acis Productions   Catalog: 89385 Release Date: 03/12/2013   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Marcel Dupré,  Robert Elmore,  Roy Perry,  Johann Sebastian Bach  ... 
    Performer:  Margaret Lacy
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  • 16.
    Barber: Cello Concerto, Sonata, Adagio / Poltera, Stott, Litton
    Barber: Cello Concerto, Sonata, Adagio / Poltera, Stott, Litton
    Label: Bis   Catalog: 1827 Release Date: 01/22/2013   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Samuel Barber
    Performer:  Christian Poltera,  Kathryn Stott
    Conductor:  Andrew Litton
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
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  • 17.
    Essential 20th Century Classics
    Essential 20th Century Classics
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 234372 Release Date: 01/22/2013   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Sergei Prokofiev,  Joaquin Rodrigo,  Aram Khachaturian,  Sir Edward Elgar  ... 
    Performer:  Jacqueline Du Pré,  Cécile Ousset,  Peter Donohoe,  Stomu Yamashta  ... 
    Conductor:  André Previn,  Simon Rattle,  Yuri Temirkanov,  Sir John Barbirolli  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ensemble Modern
    CD: $12.99
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  • 18.
    A Classical Romance
    Label: Reflections   Catalog: 57549 Release Date: 01/01/2013   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Giacomo Puccini,  George Frideric Handel,  Ludwig van Beethoven  ... 
    CD: $12.99
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  • 19.
    Impressions
    Label: Ars Produktion   Catalog: 381335 Release Date: 01/01/2013   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Jean Sibelius,  Camille Saint-Saëns,  Franz Waxman,  Henri Wieniawski  ... 
    Performer:  Arata Yumi,  Mone Hattori,  Zakhar Bron
    Conductor:  Zakhar Bron
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  • 20.
    Keep Calm And Carry On
    Label: Somerset Entertainment   Catalog: 55983 Release Date: 01/01/2013   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Johann Pachelbel,  Claude Debussy,  Tomaso Albinoni,  Erik Satie  ... 
    Performer:  Klára Körmendi,  Péter Nagy,  Judy Loman,  Nora Shulman  ... 
    Conductor:  Richard Edlinger,  Christian Pollack,  Marin Alsop,  Jerzy Maksymiuk  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Capella Istropolitana,  Aradia Ensemble,  Concentus Hungaricus
    CD: $18.99
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  • 21.
    Keep Calm And Carry On [3-cd Long Box]
    Label: Mood Media Entertainment   Catalog: 56931 Release Date: 01/01/2013   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Johann Pachelbel,  Claude Debussy,  Tomaso Albinoni,  Erik Satie  ... 
    Performer:  Klára Körmendi,  Péter Nagy,  Judy Loman,  Nora Shulman  ... 
    Conductor:  Richard Edlinger,  Christian Pollack,  Marin Alsop,  Jerzy Maksymiuk  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Capella Istropolitana,  Aradia Ensemble,  Concentus Hungaricus
    On sale! $21.96
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  • 22.
    50 Shades Of Classical
    50 Shades Of Classical
    Label: Cleopatra   Catalog: 159 Release Date: 11/27/2012   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Claude Debussy,  Gabriel Fauré,  Franz Liszt,  Sergei Rachmaninov  ... 
    Performer:  Danielle Dechenne,  Henrik Lagendaal,  Nora Ksendzov,  Dubravka Tomsic  ... 
    Conductor:  Michael Raucheisen,  Zdenek Chabala,  Ferdinand Lang,  Zoltan Kovats  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Caspar da Salo Quartett
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  • 23.
    Fifty Shades Of Emotions
    Fifty Shades Of Emotions
    Label: Belmondo   Catalog: 53 Release Date: 11/13/2012   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Antonio Vivaldi,  Samuel Barber,  Claude Debussy,  Sergei Rachmaninov  ... 
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  • 24.
    Eugene Ormandy Conducts 20th Century Classics
    Eugene Ormandy Conducts 20th Century Classics
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 5417202 Release Date: 11/06/2012   Number of Discs: 12
    Composer:  Gustav Holst,  Claude Debussy,  Maurice Ravel,  Modest Mussorgsky  ... 
    Performer:  John Williams,  Vladimir Ashkenazy,  Van Cliburn,  Isaac Stern  ... 
    Conductor:  Eugene Ormandy
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Philadelphia Orchestra,  Mendelssohn Club Chorus Philadelphia,  Rutgers University Chorus
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  • 25.
    Essential Film Classics
    Essential Film Classics
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 5134 Release Date: 10/09/2012   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Richard Strauss,  Richard Wagner,  James Horner,  John Williams  ... 
    Performer:  David Bell,  Cécile Ousset,  Manuel Barrueco,  Steve Morse  ... 
    Conductor:  Klaus Tennstedt,  Mariss Jansons,  David Abel,  Geoff Love  ... 
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