Complete Barber Songs?

 

Not anymore!

When this recording came out in the mid-90s, the big feature were two handfuls of early unrecorded songs from Samuel Barber.

In 2022, two recordings appeared with some more unrecorded songs. One on Brilliant Classics over 3CDs (140 minutes) with three Italian singers, and another from the exact same year on Resonus over 2CDs (160 minutes) with all of the songs shared across ten different singers, also including Knoxville. So, if you really want it all from Barber's song settings, these are now the ones to look up.

This recording on Deutsche Grammophon still has a few legs up on those newer recordings. John Browning is at the piano, a man who worked closely with the composer, and two high-profile US singers in the form of soprano Cheryl Studer and baritone Thomas Hampson on hand.

The real boon is Thomas Hampson, who exhibits real flair with Barber's music. The mix from his mid-to-upper range is absolutely beautiful, plus the singer's coiled dramatic strength is second to none. Hampson's French in Mélodies Passagères is delectable, and his sendoff in Three Songs, op. 45 almost steals the show. We also get a Dover Beach out of Hampson, here with the Emerson Quartet.

I am not as wild about Cheryl Studer, who seems ill chosen for this project. Yet, no one could ever call her a poor singer; rather, it is some of her vocal affects are not of my personal preferences. When I think of the great Hermit Songs on record, I probably wouldn't start here. Too bad, although I know Barber himself preferred a larger voice, so perhaps her presence is apt. That said, her rendition of Queen's Summery Coin is great.

Having John Browning at the piano is so commanding in this music. This is an important note, since Barber makes the keyboard instrument an equal partner in his song's music making. Sometimes the piano adds harmonic complexities, sometimes it is mood and scene setting, and other times personality, movement, or a feeling of stasis. This is all ably captured by DG.

Elsewhere, I also have a great like of Barber recitals from Thomas Allen, Roberta Alexander (BLOG), and Gerald Finley, although none of this trio provide all of Barber's song cycles, even if the diction of Alexander is the best of the lot, and Finley's baritone fits so naturally to this music.

So, where to go. I am happy with what I have here, particularly for Hampson's baritone. Even if I have my druthers regarding Studer, she was obviously attracted to this project, and does Barber justice all the same. But, if you want it all, completely, you will now have to go elsewhere.

 

Listen on YouTube

 

 

Performers
Cheryl Studer, soprano
Thomas Hampson, baritone
John Browning, piano

Label: DG
Year: 1994
Total Timing: 1.49.50

 

 

 

 

This is no longer the place to get all of Barber's art songs, but these remain very fine performances nonetheless.

Plus, there are three releases of this recording now (pictured above), so some price comparisons can be had for the physical media maven.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Find more Barber recordings HERE!