Samuel Barber: Orchestral Works, Volume 2

Samuel Barber (1910 - 1981)
Cello Concerto, Op. 22 - Medea, Op. 23 - Adagio for Strings, Op. 11
Wendy Warner, cello
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Marin Alsop conducting
Naxos

Samuel Barber's lyrical Cello Concerto is here offered together with a suite from the ballet music for Medea, originally written for Martha Graham. Best known of all Barbers music is his evocative Adagio for Strings, a work of deep feeling that has earned a firm place in American repertoire.

Acclaim

Robert Berkovitx
"Wendy Warner's recording of the Barber Cello Concerto is a more satisfying account than the recordings by Yo-Yo Ma, Steven Isserlis or Raphael Wallfisch. Each of these other recordings commend themselves for various reasons, but Ms. Warner's account brings together a searching musicality, technical command, poignant lyricism, and a beautiful stereo acoustic."

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Tracks

Cello Concerto, Op. 22

1.Allegro moderato - 12:51
2.Andante sostenuto - 07:22
3.Molto allegro e appassionato - 09:14

Medea Ballet Suite Op. 23 (1947)

4.Parodos - 03:14
5.Choros. Medea and Jason - 05:01
6.The Young Princess. Jason - 03:28
7.Choros - 03:30
8.Medea - 07:46
9.Kantikos Agonias - 02:27
10.Exodos - 03:18

Adagio for Strings, Op. 11

11.Adagio for Strings, Op. 11 - 07:47

"Wendy Warner depicted the beauty of Brahms' imagination with a lyrically tender high register and sonorous tone-picture. A special magic lay over the scene: the air of a great artist's soul penetrated her warm-hearted playing...[it] revealed unbelievably clearly her gift to speak with the instrument, but also her absolutely individual interpretation of the work.— Die Glocke, New Westphalian (translated)