Barber, Menotti, Berg, DÕindy

Schippers was a staunch advocate of Barber’s music, but this isn’t his best memorial. It begins well, with a sharply played and recorded account of Medea’s Meditation and Dance of Vengeance, but the Adagio which follows is strangely thin and uninvolved. The Second Essay starts tentatively, and Martina Arroyo’s passion in Andromache’s farewell has to battle against a dry recording (and no text in the booklet). Most convincing of all is the precise and spirited Menotti overture: but for Barber, I’d go to Slatkin on EMI. Martin Cotton

Our rating

3

Published: January 20, 2012 at 2:38 pm

COMPOSERS: Barber,Berg,D'Indy,Menotti
LABELS: Sony Heritage
ALBUM TITLE: Collection: Schippers
WORKS: Adagio for Strings; Medea’s Dance of Vengeance; The School for Scandal Overture; Second Essay for Orchestra; Amelia al ballo Overture; Interlude from Wozzeck; Introduction to Fervaal
PERFORMER: Martina Arroyo (soprano) New York Philharmonic, Columbia SO/Thomas Schippers
CATALOGUE NO: MHK 62837 ADD (1960/65)

Schippers was a staunch advocate of Barber’s music, but this isn’t his best memorial. It begins well, with a sharply played and recorded account of Medea’s Meditation and Dance of Vengeance, but the Adagio which follows is strangely thin and uninvolved. The Second Essay starts tentatively, and Martina Arroyo’s passion in Andromache’s farewell has to battle against a dry recording (and no text in the booklet). Most convincing of all is the precise and spirited Menotti overture: but for Barber, I’d go to Slatkin on EMI. Martin Cotton

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