Samuel Barber as a constellation

 

Remind me not to look up at the night sky anymore.


There is another later RCA set with just the Piano, Violin, and Cello concertos from this same team with a red cover. This French 2CD set on review, with the same performers adds Samuel Barber's Capricorn Concerto and Symphony no. 1, as well as his Souvenirs for four-handed piano, were all recorded in the 90s.

If that 'tweren't enough, RCA mined their back catalog and adds Medea's Meditation & Dance of Vengeance and Adagio for Strings from Charles Münch and the Boston Symphony Orchestra from 1957 as extras. These performers from that time period are especially attuned to Medea, where that work's Ravelian spirit are right up their alley, and remains in splendid stereo sonics.

I included the original album artwork from these older performances below, just for reference. Certainly, I couldn't pass up providing the one for Medea, where a cat-suit lady, and having fun with Slinkys, are combined!

This is certainly a lot of music, and in fine performances, mostly from Leonard Slatkin with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. The lineup of soloists includes John Browning, the pianist for whom Barber's Piano Concerto was written, violinist Kyoko Takezawa, and cellist Steven Isserlis. If there is a druther, the concertos have reference classic recordings attached to them from yesteryear which often remain first choices, even if Slatkin's are rather fine too.

One wonders why Slatkin didn't perform the orchestral version of Souvenirs, but perhaps having the great John Browning on hand was too much of a chance to pass up. They certainly sound like they are having the times of their lives.

Otherwise, there is a wide swathe of influences across these Barber works on hand. From the Neo-Romantic, cinematic qualities of his beloved Violin Concerto and Symphony no. 1, to the unique modernisms of the Capricorn Concerto and astounding virtuosity required in the Cello Concerto.

This 2CD Capricorn-inspired digipak is nice, although the brief liner notes only come in French. If you can find it, this set is worth digging around for to have a lovely collection of Samuel Barber's concertante works from Slatkin & Co., with a few extras compared to what is normally offered.

 

 

 

 

Works
Adagio for Strings (7.45)
Symphony 1 (21.39)
Piano Concerto (29.09)
Violin Concerto (23.37)
Cello Concerto (26.11)
Capricorn Concerto (14.34)
Souvenirs (18.24)
Medea's Dance (12.07)

Soloists
John Browning, piano
Kyoko Takezawa, violin
Steven Isserlis, cello
Jacob Berg, flute
Peter Bowman, oboe
Susan Slaughter, trumpet
Leonard Slatkin, piano

Performers
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
    Leonard Slatkin, conductor
Boston Symphony Orchestra
    Charles Münch, conductor

Label: RCA
Year: 1957, 1991-96; 2003
Total Timing: 2.33.26

 

 

 

A great set, especially to have all of Samuel Barber's concertos gathered together.

The addition of Boston & Münch from the late 50s, as well as Slatkin and Browning together at the piano are mere icing on the cake.

Many like these recordings, but I readily acknowledge reference performances exist elsewhere.

 

 

 

 

Find more Barber recordings HERE!