Barber's Adagio

Samuel Barber (Composer), Ralph Vaughan Williams (Composer), Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (Composer), Gustav Mahler (Composer), Leonard Bernstein (Conductor), New York Philharmonic (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: New York Philharmonic
• Conductor: Leonard Bernstein
• Composer: Samuel Barber, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky, Gustav Mahler
• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000025TX
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #24,429 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #28 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Modern, 20th, & 21st Century > Composers > Vaughan Williams, Ralph

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Buy CD!, August 21, 2002

By 

Shota Hanai (Torrance, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Barber's Adagio (Audio CD)

If you've seen 'Platoon', and 'Lorenzel's Oil', repeatedly hearing the same traumatic music, and want to own it to your music library, this would be the definite CD to buy. A tiny bit slower than what's heard on the screen, but with more emotive sounds on the strings, the New York Phil under Bernstein's baton would surely put you to tears for sure. I claim this is one of the best recording of Barber's Adagio for Strings (lined with Lenny's performance with the LA Phil on DG).

Vaughn-William's Fantasia based on the music by Tallis is indeed haunting and beautiful, and Lenny's performance is highly stimulating, with the string ever so brilliantly played, undoubtly making one of the most acclaimed performaces. The 'Fantasia on Greensleeves' is beatifully played too.

Tchaikovsky's andante cantabile from his first string quartet is another emotive and wonderful adagio on the CD. Leo Tolsoy was so moved by the music, he was in tears. The same may happen to you with Bernstein and the ever melancholy strings.

Mahler's fourth movement from his fifth symphony is played very well tool. Although not as intricately played as the DG recording with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, this is still as touching as it gets.

Overall, I love this CD, with the ever emotion spilling Bernstein with the New York Phil strings. You should own it too if you love adagios. Lined with Karajan's "Adagio" Series, this CD won't disappoint you. Guaranteed!

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ralph Vaughan Williams: Knows...., February 2, 2001

By 

Hillaire Gallagher - See all my reviews

This review is from: Barber's Adagio (Audio CD)

Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis for me is the most hauntingly beautiful piece of Romantic music. There is a tension that draws you in while a crescendo ebbs and flows and washes over you. It is a very sensual experience to be ravished by the beauty of this piece. I suggest listening to it with eyes closed take those 18 or so minutes for your self and be loved by the masters that created, inspired and performed this. thank you!

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Grave and Awesome, July 27, 1999

By 

J. A. Dueck "lord love a duck" (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Barber's Adagio (Audio CD)

I bought this CD mainly for the Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis, but the Greensleeves Fantasia and Barber's Adagio were unexpected bonuses as well. This is a very good recording, not rushed and not too slow. The only reason I did not give it five stars is because it is an AAD recording, that is, a digitally mastered audio recording, and not digitally recorded and mastered (DDD). However, it remains my favorite CD out of quite a collection (depending on the mood you're in, of course).