Barber, Samuel 1910 - 1981
Author: Miyamoto, Yumi
Last updated：June 1, 2007
Author: Miyamoto, Yumi
Born in Pennsylvania, USA, he began piano at age 6 and composition at age 7. He also developed an interest in vocal music and cello. In 1924, at the age of 14, he entered the top-tier class at the Curtis Institute of Music. In 1928, he was awarded the Bearns Prize by Columbia University for his Violin Sonata.
In 1935 and 1936, he received the Pulitzer Scholarship and the Rome Prize, traveling to Europe, where he composed works such as his Symphony No. 1 and String Quartet during his stay. Furthermore, he met Toscanini in Italy and showed him his works, which led to the premiere of Adagio for Strings.
In 1947, his Cello Concerto received the New York Critics' Circle Award. His 1957 opera Vanessa premiered at the Metropolitan Opera and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize. In 1962, he received the Pulitzer Prize again for his Piano Concerto. However, following the failure of his 1966 opera Antony and Cleopatra, he spent the next five years in seclusion in the Italian Alps. In 1971, he returned to the concert stage. In 1975, the revised Antony and Cleopatra premiered successfully in New York. He died in New York in 1981 due to cancer.
Works(10)
Piano Solo (5)
pieces (2)
Chamber Music (1)
Chamber music (2)