His Violin Concerto is a staple in any violinist's repertoire, but there's much more to Barber than this work. He was one of the most expressive lyric and Romantic compossers of the 20th century, with a tranche of chamber and orchestral works to his name – and even a handful of operas.
Best works by Barber
Adagio for Strings
This is Barber’s single most popular work – originally a movement from his String Quartet, which the conductor Toscanini with remarkable perception suggested should be rescored for full strings.
By the way, you can hear a performance of this beautiful work at the 2024 BBC Proms. On Sunday 4 August, for Prom 20, conductor John Wilson leads the Sinfonia of London in an all-American programme that also includes the Suite from Aaron Copland's 1938 ballet Billy the Kid and George Gershwin's iconic Rhapsody in Blue among others.
Recommended recording: Detroit Symphony Orchestra/Neeme Järvi Chandos CHAN 9169
Dover Beach
Barber’s genius for setting words to music showed itself early with this setting of Matthew Arnold’s melancholy poem.
Recommended recording: Gerald Finley (baritone); Aronowitz Ensemble Hyperion CDA 67528
Knoxville: Summer of 1915
Though essentially a setting of a prose passage, Barber captures both its musicality and its idyll of a summer’s afternoon spent on a porch in Tennessee.
Recommended recording: Dawn Upshaw (soprano); St Luke’s Orchestra/David Zinman Nonesuch 7559 79187 2
Violin Concerto
Sharing something of the spirit of Knoxville, Barber’s Violin Concerto starts with two dreamily lyrical movements, then finishes with a hurtling finale.
We've named the best recordings of Barber's Violin Concerto here.
We named Barber's Violin Concerto as one of the best violin concertos of all time.
Recommended recording: Isaac Stern; New York Philharmonic/Leonard Bernstein Sony SMK 89751
Vanessa
Barber’s first opera is lusciously Romantic in style and enjoyed a first-rate cast at its premiere including Eleanor Steber and Nicolai Gedda, who went on to make a studio recording.
Recommended recording: Eleanor Steber, Nicolai Gedda; Metropolitan Opera/Dimitri Mitropoulos RCA 88697446172