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Barber: Complete Songs
Brilliant Classics

Barber: Complete Songs

$18.99

Details

Composer
Samuel Barber
Artist
Leilah Dione Ezra, Elisabetta Lombardi, Mauro Borgioni, Filippo Farinelli
Format
CD
Label
Brilliant Classics
Released
Mar 24, 2023
Catalog #
BRI96514
UPC
5028421965147

About

The songs of Samuel Barber offer the beauty of his output in microcosm. ‘Complete’ in this context used to mean the 47 songs gathered in a Deutsche Grammophon 2CD set from 1994, but there are 65 songs here, making it the most complete survey yet recorded.

Most of the lesser-known and unpublished songs on CD3 date back to Barber’s student years, but he took up composing young, and was always inclined towards writing for voices and responding to poetry. He made his matchlessly evocative setting of Matthew Arnold’s Dover Beach when he was just 21 years old. However, by the time of the Op. 10 Songs, Barber’s harmonies have thickened in texture and expressionist harmony: these are heroic numbers demanding an interpreter of heroic projection, another world away from the almost painfully confessional mood of the music which has made his name such as Knoxville: Summer of 1915. Nevertheless, they paint a vivid portrait of Barber himself, who had a fine baritone voice and would delight in performing his songs while accompanying himself at the piano. 

Barber could read Proust in French, Goethe in German, Dante in Italian and Neruda in Spanish, and his erudite choice of poets and poems reflected facets of his complex character: a restless melancholy on the one hand, and an impish wit on the other. His part-Irish ancestry drew him towards Joyce, Yeats and James Stephens, and his interest in his Celtic heritage prompted the writing of his best-known song-prompted the writing of his best-known song-cycle, the Hermit Songs Op. 29. Much later in life, he returned to song (and to Joyce) with Despite and Still Op. 41 and the Three Songs Op. 45. Both collections are coloured by introspection and resignation, but they are masterpieces of the song-writer’s art. 

Few composers in the history of “art song” can compare to the figure of Samuel Barber (1910-1981), whose innate gift for lyricism found expression in his exceptional baritone voice, and who would perform any number of his songs accompanying himself at the piano.

Performed by three excellent Italian singers, Mauro Borgioni (baritone), Leilah Dione Ezra (soprano) and Elisabetta Lombardi (mezzo soprano), who won their spurs on the most important international stages. This project is another triumph of Filippo Farinelli, indefatigable pianist and promotor of prestigious recording projects, such as the complete songs by Jolivet, Berg, Dallapiccola and Ravel, and instrumental projects by Koechlin, Jolivet, Hindemith and Debussy.

Among his many recordings for Brilliant Classics, the pianist Filippo Farinelli has made complete surveys of the song output of Berg, Ravel, Dallapiccola and Jolivet, in conjunction with colleagues who have immersed themselves in the idiom. Here he is likewise joined by a trio of Italian singers who show themselves at home with the wistful, changeable moods of Barber the song-composer.

Tracklist 65 tracks

  1. 1 No. 1. The Daisies 01:10
    Track
    1
    Title
    No. 1. The Daisies
    Duration
    01:10
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Mauro Borgioni, Filippo Farinelli
  2. 2 No. 2. With Rue my Heart is Laden 01:08
    Track
    2
    Title
    No. 2. With Rue my Heart is Laden
    Duration
    01:08
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Mauro Borgioni, Filippo Farinelli
  3. 3 No. 3. Bessie Bobtail 02:53
    Track
    3
    Title
    No. 3. Bessie Bobtail
    Duration
    02:53
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Mauro Borgioni, Filippo Farinelli
  4. 4 No. 1. Rain has Fallen 02:22
    Track
    4
    Title
    No. 1. Rain has Fallen
    Duration
    02:22
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Mauro Borgioni, Filippo Farinelli
  5. 5 No. 2. Sleep now 03:04
    Track
    5
    Title
    No. 2. Sleep now
    Duration
    03:04
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Mauro Borgioni, Filippo Farinelli
  6. 6 No. 3. I hear an army 02:41
    Track
    6
    Title
    No. 3. I hear an army
    Duration
    02:41
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Mauro Borgioni, Filippo Farinelli
  7. 7 No. 1. A nun takes the veil 01:56
    Track
    7
    Title
    No. 1. A nun takes the veil
    Duration
    01:56
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Mauro Borgioni, Filippo Farinelli
  8. 8 No. 2. The secrets of the old 01:16
    Track
    8
    Title
    No. 2. The secrets of the old
    Duration
    01:16
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Mauro Borgioni, Filippo Farinelli
  9. 9 No. 3. Sure on this shining night 02:45
    Track
    9
    Title
    No. 3. Sure on this shining night
    Duration
    02:45
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Mauro Borgioni, Filippo Farinelli
  10. 10 No. 4. Nocturne 03:39
    Track
    10
    Title
    No. 4. Nocturne
    Duration
    03:39
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Leilah Dione Ezra, Filippo Farinelli
  11. 11 No. 1. The Queen's Face on a Summery Coin 02:50
    Track
    11
    Title
    No. 1. The Queen's Face on a Summery Coin
    Duration
    02:50
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Leilah Dione Ezra, Filippo Farinelli
  12. 12 No. 2. Monks and Raisins 01:24
    Track
    12
    Title
    No. 2. Monks and Raisins
    Duration
    01:24
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Leilah Dione Ezra, Filippo Farinelli
  13. 13 Nuvoletta, Op. 25 05:58
    Track
    13
    Title
    Nuvoletta, Op. 25
    Duration
    05:58
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Leilah Dione Ezra, Filippo Farinelli
  14. 14 No. 1. Puisque tout passe 01:23
    Track
    14
    Title
    No. 1. Puisque tout passe
    Duration
    01:23
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Elisabetta Lombardi, Filippo Farinelli
  15. 15 No. 2. Un cygne 02:20
    Track
    15
    Title
    No. 2. Un cygne
    Duration
    02:20
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Elisabetta Lombardi, Filippo Farinelli
  16. 16 No. 3. Tombeau dans un parc 01:57
    Track
    16
    Title
    No. 3. Tombeau dans un parc
    Duration
    01:57
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Elisabetta Lombardi, Filippo Farinelli
  17. 17 No. 4. Le clocher chante 01:27
    Track
    17
    Title
    No. 4. Le clocher chante
    Duration
    01:27
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Elisabetta Lombardi, Filippo Farinelli
  18. 18 No. 5. Départ 01:55
    Track
    18
    Title
    No. 5. Départ
    Duration
    01:55
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Elisabetta Lombardi, Filippo Farinelli
  19. 19 No. 1. At Saint Patrick's Purgatory 01:31
    Track
    19
    Title
    No. 1. At Saint Patrick's Purgatory
    Duration
    01:31
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Leilah Dione Ezra, Filippo Farinelli
  20. 20 No. 2. Church Bells at Night 00:48
    Track
    20
    Title
    No. 2. Church Bells at Night
    Duration
    00:48
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Leilah Dione Ezra, Filippo Farinelli
  21. 21 No. 3. Saint Ita's Vision 03:14
    Track
    21
    Title
    No. 3. Saint Ita's Vision
    Duration
    03:14
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Leilah Dione Ezra, Filippo Farinelli
  22. 22 No. 4. The Heavenly Banquet 01:22
    Track
    22
    Title
    No. 4. The Heavenly Banquet
    Duration
    01:22
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Leilah Dione Ezra, Filippo Farinelli
  23. 23 No. 5. The Crucifixion 02:08
    Track
    23
    Title
    No. 5. The Crucifixion
    Duration
    02:08
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Leilah Dione Ezra, Filippo Farinelli
  24. 24 No. 6. Sea-Snatch 00:42
    Track
    24
    Title
    No. 6. Sea-Snatch
    Duration
    00:42
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Leilah Dione Ezra, Filippo Farinelli
  25. 25 No. 7. Promiscuity 01:03
    Track
    25
    Title
    No. 7. Promiscuity
    Duration
    01:03
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Leilah Dione Ezra, Filippo Farinelli
  26. 26 No. 8. The Monk and his Cat 02:20
    Track
    26
    Title
    No. 8. The Monk and his Cat
    Duration
    02:20
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Leilah Dione Ezra, Filippo Farinelli
  27. 27 No. 9. The Praises of God 01:00
    Track
    27
    Title
    No. 9. The Praises of God
    Duration
    01:00
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Leilah Dione Ezra, Filippo Farinelli
  28. 28 No. 10. The Desire for Hermitage 03:29
    Track
    28
    Title
    No. 10. The Desire for Hermitage
    Duration
    03:29
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Leilah Dione Ezra, Filippo Farinelli
  29. 29 No. 1. A Last Song 02:15
    Track
    29
    Title
    No. 1. A Last Song
    Duration
    02:15
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Leilah Dione Ezra, Filippo Farinelli
  30. 30 No. 2. My Lizard 01:03
    Track
    30
    Title
    No. 2. My Lizard
    Duration
    01:03
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Leilah Dione Ezra, Filippo Farinelli
  31. 31 No. 3. In the Wilderness 03:27
    Track
    31
    Title
    No. 3. In the Wilderness
    Duration
    03:27
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Leilah Dione Ezra, Filippo Farinelli
  32. 32 No. 4. Solitary Hotel 02:44
    Track
    32
    Title
    No. 4. Solitary Hotel
    Duration
    02:44
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Leilah Dione Ezra, Filippo Farinelli
  33. 33 No. 5. Despite and Still 01:42
    Track
    33
    Title
    No. 5. Despite and Still
    Duration
    01:42
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Leilah Dione Ezra, Filippo Farinelli
  34. 34 No. 1. Now have I fed and eaten up the rose 02:08
    Track
    34
    Title
    No. 1. Now have I fed and eaten up the rose
    Duration
    02:08
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Mauro Borgioni, Filippo Farinelli
  35. 35 No. 2. A Green Lowland of Pianos 02:33
    Track
    35
    Title
    No. 2. A Green Lowland of Pianos
    Duration
    02:33
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Mauro Borgioni, Filippo Farinelli
  36. 36 No. 3. O Boundless, Boundless Evening 03:42
    Track
    36
    Title
    No. 3. O Boundless, Boundless Evening
    Duration
    03:42
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Mauro Borgioni, Filippo Farinelli
  37. 37 No. 1. Little Children of the Wind 01:17
    Track
    37
    Title
    No. 1. Little Children of the Wind
    Duration
    01:17
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Leilah Dione Ezra, Filippo Farinelli
  38. 38 No. 2. Longing 02:16
    Track
    38
    Title
    No. 2. Longing
    Duration
    02:16
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Leilah Dione Ezra, Filippo Farinelli
  39. 39 No. 1. Invocation to Youth 01:27
    Track
    39
    Title
    No. 1. Invocation to Youth
    Duration
    01:27
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Leilah Dione Ezra, Filippo Farinelli
  40. 40 No. 2. I Never Thought That Youth Would Go 01:21
    Track
    40
    Title
    No. 2. I Never Thought That Youth Would Go
    Duration
    01:21
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Leilah Dione Ezra, Filippo Farinelli
  41. 41 Fantasy in Purple 02:24
    Track
    41
    Title
    Fantasy in Purple
    Duration
    02:24
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Mauro Borgioni, Filippo Farinelli
  42. 42 Music, when soft voices die 01:24
    Track
    42
    Title
    Music, when soft voices die
    Duration
    01:24
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Leilah Dione Ezra, Filippo Farinelli
  43. 43 La nuit 02:58
    Track
    43
    Title
    La nuit
    Duration
    02:58
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Elisabetta Lombardi, Filippo Farinelli
  44. 44 A Slumber Song of the Madonna 02:22
    Track
    44
    Title
    A Slumber Song of the Madonna
    Duration
    02:22
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Leilah Dione Ezra, Filippo Farinelli
  45. 45 Lady When I Behold the Roses 01:18
    Track
    45
    Title
    Lady When I Behold the Roses
    Duration
    01:18
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Mauro Borgioni, Filippo Farinelli
  46. 46 An Earnest Suit to his Unkind Mistress not to Forsake him 02:35
    Track
    46
    Title
    An Earnest Suit to his Unkind Mistress not to Forsake him
    Duration
    02:35
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Mauro Borgioni, Filippo Farinelli
  47. 47 Hey Nonny No 01:03
    Track
    47
    Title
    Hey Nonny No
    Duration
    01:03
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Mauro Borgioni, Filippo Farinelli
  48. 48 Ask me to Rest 02:10
    Track
    48
    Title
    Ask me to Rest
    Duration
    02:10
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Leilah Dione Ezra, Filippo Farinelli
  49. 49 Au clair de la lune 02:17
    Track
    49
    Title
    Au clair de la lune
    Duration
    02:17
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Elisabetta Lombardi, Filippo Farinelli
  50. 50 Man 03:43
    Track
    50
    Title
    Man
    Duration
    03:43
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Leilah Dione Ezra, Filippo Farinelli
  51. 51 Thy Love 01:41
    Track
    51
    Title
    Thy Love
    Duration
    01:41
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Leilah Dione Ezra, Filippo Farinelli
  52. 52 Watchers 04:04
    Track
    52
    Title
    Watchers
    Duration
    04:04
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Leilah Dione Ezra, Filippo Farinelli
  53. 53 There's Nae Lark 01:49
    Track
    53
    Title
    There's Nae Lark
    Duration
    01:49
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Mauro Borgioni, Filippo Farinelli
  54. 54 Mother I Cannot Mind My Wheel 01:05
    Track
    54
    Title
    Mother I Cannot Mind My Wheel
    Duration
    01:05
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Leilah Dione Ezra, Filippo Farinelli
  55. 55 Love at the Door 01:19
    Track
    55
    Title
    Love at the Door
    Duration
    01:19
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Mauro Borgioni, Filippo Farinelli
  56. 56 Serenader 01:59
    Track
    56
    Title
    Serenader
    Duration
    01:59
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Mauro Borgioni, Filippo Farinelli
  57. 57 Love's Caution 03:22
    Track
    57
    Title
    Love's Caution
    Duration
    03:22
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Mauro Borgioni, Filippo Farinelli
  58. 58 Night Wanderers 02:19
    Track
    58
    Title
    Night Wanderers
    Duration
    02:19
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Mauro Borgioni, Filippo Farinelli
  59. 59 Of that so sweet imprisonment 01:51
    Track
    59
    Title
    Of that so sweet imprisonment
    Duration
    01:51
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Mauro Borgioni, Filippo Farinelli
  60. 60 Peace 02:39
    Track
    60
    Title
    Peace
    Duration
    02:39
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Mauro Borgioni, Filippo Farinelli
  61. 61 Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening 02:19
    Track
    61
    Title
    Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
    Duration
    02:19
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Mauro Borgioni, Filippo Farinelli
  62. 62 Strings in the earth and air 01:57
    Track
    62
    Title
    Strings in the earth and air
    Duration
    01:57
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Mauro Borgioni, Filippo Farinelli
  63. 63 The Beggar's Song 01:58
    Track
    63
    Title
    The Beggar's Song
    Duration
    01:58
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Mauro Borgioni, Filippo Farinelli
  64. 64 In the dark pinewood 01:28
    Track
    64
    Title
    In the dark pinewood
    Duration
    01:28
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Mauro Borgioni, Filippo Farinelli
  65. 65 Who Carries Corn and Crown 01:12
    Track
    65
    Title
    Who Carries Corn and Crown
    Duration
    01:12
    Composer
    Samuel Barber
    Performer
    Leilah Dione Ezra, Filippo Farinelli