Samuel Barber's opera, Vanessa, premiered when he was almost 48 years old, on January 23, 1958, at the Metropolitan Opera Company.
The libretto for Vanessa was written by Gian Carlo Menotti, the composer's life-long friend.
This recording of Vanessa was made at the Concert Studio of Ukrainian Radio, Kiev, Ukraine, from May 25 to June 8, 2002.
Barber's music for Vanessa reflects the opera's tense, tragic scenario with incredible passion and intensity throughout.
Vanessa, Samuel Barber's first opera, was received with much acclaim and went on to win the 1958 Pulitzer Prize for music.
