Samuel Barber
1910-1981
Most famously a Neo-Romantic composer, Barber's music looked back to the 19th Century while still being firmly fixed within the 20th Century.
With that in mind, his was an original voice, where I still find curiosities abounding in his music, and not altogether without a sense of humor.
I am most familiar with his vocal songs and choral music, and I consider his contributions to solo voice as one of the finest in the 20th Century.
The composer himself was a studied singer and pianist, where you can still find him performing in these musical roles on recordings.
Barber does not have a vast output of compositions, but it contains a solid mix of large-scale music, such as operas and symphonies, and intimate musical pieces.
Recordings and reviews currently on hand (Click below to visit):
1988: Songs
1994: Songs
1996: Choral Music
1998: Prayers of Kierkegaard
1998: Symphony 1 & 2
2001: Orchestral Music
2003: Concertos (set)
1991: Symphony 1 & Piano Concerto
1996: Violin, Cello, Capricorn Concertos
2004: Reincarnations
2012: The Lovers
2013: Chamber Music