Samuel Barber was known for his cultivated erudition and insatiable thirst for the written word, which ensured his song texts were always of high quality and variety.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Despite being sidelined by some critics for his conservative style, Samuel Barber remained true to himself, stating he was not a self-conscious composer and believed in 'doing his thing'.
Recording & Production
This recording of Samuel Barber's complete songs was made in Perugia, Italy, between November 2021 and June 2022, using a Steinway & Sons D piano.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Barber was fluent in multiple languages, reading Proust in French, Goethe in German, Dante in Italian, and Neruda in Spanish, and even set French poems by Rainer Maria Rilke to music.
Composer Biography
Samuel Barber's early talent for song and piano was encouraged by his uncle, Sidney Homer, a prolific composer of songs, and his maternal aunt, Louise Homer, a famous contralto at the Metropolitan Opera.
Composition History
This album includes 29 songs by Samuel Barber that were published posthumously, all written between 1925 and 1936, which he had denied publication during his lifetime.
Composer Biography
Barber entered the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia at age 14, where he met Gian Carlo Menotti, who would become his lifelong companion.
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