Music of Samuel Barber

Samuel Barber (Composer), Yoel Levi (Conductor), Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Sylvia McNair (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Sylvia McNair
• Orchestra: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Yoel Levi
• Composer: Samuel Barber
• Audio CD (February 11, 1992)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Telarc
• ASIN: B000003CX0
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #135,600 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The "Knoxville", August 1, 2001

By 

Pragmatist (Minneapolis, Mn USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Music of Samuel Barber (Audio CD)

I regard "Knoxville.. as one of the great pieces of music and the combination of Barber's music and Agee's words is compelling and deeply moving. I have four versions of the piece and all of them are good, but this version simply rises above the rest. McNair's voice is crystal clear and the orchestra is deeply involved, while not overwhelming her voice. The four elements -- music, words, voice and orchestra -- unite in a way that is unique and powerfully emotional. If you are not moved by this Knoxville, check your pulse.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure Americana, February 5, 2002

By 

D. Seymour "snadmus" (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Music of Samuel Barber (Audio CD)

This is a terrific collection of works by Barber. Like Copland, Barber's pieces evoke nostalgic images of America, but their overall character is delicate and pensive. The opening overture is as delightful as a summer picnic. It is a perfect lead-in to the soft reminiscences of Knoxville, poignantly rendered by Sylvia McNair. The outpouring of grief from the 1st Essay and the heartbreak of the Adagio are adroitly interrupted by the anger & agitation of the 2nd Essay. Medea's Dance is an appropriate farewell closer. All in all, a well programmed disc with 65 minutes of great music and Telarc's unmatched sonics. Easily recommended!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy it for the Knoxville, October 18, 2000

By 

N. Chongsiriwatana "npchong" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Music of Samuel Barber (Audio CD)

Sylvia McNair's rendition of Knoxville: Summer of 1915 is excellent. Her voice is ALWAYS in tune, very musical, very full, and very pure. This recording of Knoxville is the reason I would give the CD 5 stars. If you want a great recording of this piece and like Barber (who wouldn't?!) then I wholeheartedly recommend this CD.

BUT Levi's Overture to the School for Scandal is WAY TOO SLOW. I really don't understand what happened. Thomas Schippers made a recording of this piece that makes is sound really neat, but here, with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, it becomes really boring.

Everything else on the CD is definitely worthwhile to listen to. I don't think recordings of the 1st Essay are very common, and the 2nd Essay and Medea's Dance of Vengeance sound great.

The Adagio is not the best I've ever heard, but it's still very good, and I don't think any shortcomings would be obvious unless you've heard a whole bunch of recordings of the piece. The tempo is good, the climax climactic. The only real shortcoming is that it's not quite the same as Thomas Schipper's which *is* the best I've heard.

So, all in all, I would buy this recording, not only because Knoxville is so good on it, but also because it gives a good, well-played (for the most part) representation of Barber's orchestral music.

Note: the Thomas Schippers recording I keep mentioning is with the New York Philharmonic. It has music by a couple of other composers on it which is pretty good, but the Barber stuff is REALLY good.