Samuel Barber: Knoxville: Summer of 1915; Dover Beach; Hermit Songs; Andromache's Farewell

Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Performer), Samuel Barber (Composer), William Strickland (Conductor), Thomas Schippers (Conductor), Juilliard String Quartet (Performer), New York Philharmonic (Performer, Orchestra), Dumbarton Oaks Orchestra (Orchestra), Samuel Barber (Performer), Eleanor Steber (Performer), Leontyne Price (Performer), Martina Arroyo (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Juilliard String Quartet, New York Philharmonic, Samuel Barber, Eleanor Steber, et al.
• Orchestra: New York Philharmonic, Dumbarton Oaks Orchestra
• Conductor: William Strickland, Thomas Schippers
• Composer: Samuel Barber
• Audio CD (July 28, 1992)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000027CU
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #105,134 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #22 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Price, Leontyne

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential!, December 8, 1999

By 

Frank M. Hudson (Bowie, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Samuel Barber: Knoxville: Summer of 1915; Dover Beach; Hermit Songs; Andromache's Farewell (Audio CD)

This fabulous collection is required listening for anyone who loves Barber's music and/or great singing. Naturally Leontyne Price is wonderful in the HERMIT SONGS, likewise Fischer-Dieskau in Dover Beach -- but don't overlook Steber's historic performance of KNOXVILLE, which she commissioned, nor Arroyo's dramatic tour-de-force in the powerful ANDROMACHE'S FAREWELL, a late work. The Samuel Barber Foundation website (samuelbarber.org) will soon be operating with news/reviews of new & reissued recordings of Barber's work.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rocking gently, talking gently, March 3, 2000

By 

J Scott Morrison (Middlebury VT, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Samuel Barber: Knoxville: Summer of 1915; Dover Beach; Hermit Songs; Andromache's Farewell (Audio CD)

Essential Barber. Steber's "Knoxville" is the earliest recording. She commissioned it, if I'm not mistaken. Her feeling for the text, her phrasing of it is remarkable. Her diction is perfect. The rest of this collection is an American treasure. Too bad it doesn't include Samuel Barber's recording of himself singing "Dover Beach", but barring that DFD's is the best on records. Leontyne Price's "Hermit Songs" are the classic recording. How could you go wrong?

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lyrical performances, July 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Samuel Barber: Knoxville: Summer of 1915; Dover Beach; Hermit Songs; Andromache's Farewell (Audio CD)

This is a delightful recording! First, "Knoxville"'s lyrics are from "A Death In The Family", by James Agee -- one of the most evocative prose writers. Second, Barber's composition is wonderfully sympathetic with Agee's lyrics. Third, Ms Steber's dynamic voice alternately stands out from the orchestra, then melds into it, as the focus of the lyrics changes. (Listen to the way that the line "Now is the night one blue dew." flows from her voice to the woodwinds: dreamy.) The flip side is equally delightful, and on the whole probably a bit more light hearted (if not as introspective) as the first. I especially love the song "A Monk And His Cat": thanks to the magic of Mr. Barber and Ms. Price, a 12th(?) century monk, obviously besotted by his cat, speaks clearly to us all these centuries later. . . .and isn't it wonderful to hear the composer himself accompany Ms. Price? You will love this CD. (Report back here, if you're not satisfied.)