Samuel Barber

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A pivotal twentieth-century composer, Samuel Barber received numerous accolades, including two Pulitzer Prizes for Music, and the support of notable figures like Serge Koussevitzky and Marian Anderson. His works have become staples in concert repertoire and continue to thrive in both high art and popular culture. Acclaimed biographer Howard Pollack offers a comprehensive account of Barber's life and music, situating him within his social and cultural context. Born into a musical family, Barber pursued his ambitions from a young age. Pollack traces his journey from a gifted youth through a career marked by consistent recognition, including prizes and fellowships. The biography includes stylistic analyses of significant works such as Adagio for Strings, the Second Symphony, the opera Vanessa, and Piano Concerto No. 1, alongside insights into their commissioning, performance, reception, and legacy. Pollack also details Barber's interactions with contemporaries like Leonard Bernstein and Dmitri Mitropoulos, as well as prominent performers and patrons. Additionally, he explores Barber's complex relationship with Gian Carlo Menotti. Drawing on new interviews and extensive archival research, this biography serves as a critical and personal exploration of a monumental figure in twentieth-century American music.