Camera Three: Happy Birthday, Samuel Barber!

This program, filmed in Samuel Barber's NYC apartment, was aired to celebrate his 67th birthday. James Tocco is the host and during the program he interviews Barber and performs the fugue from Barber's Piano Sonata (8:47). Other contents include a performance of the slow movement from Barber's String Quartet (American String Quartet) (15:08), his song Sleep Now (Hinds/Barber) (22:35) and the Hesitation Tango from Souvenirs (Barber/Tocco) (25:23). (1977)

[@lorenamares1427]

You know you’re badass when you sit and play your own scores during an interview.

[@golden-63]

*One of the greatest composers of the 20th Century. He really knew how to write for the voice.*

[@bkkershner]

Pure gold. Such a master, and such a gentleman. Thanks to all involved for putting this together, as it can be with us for all time.

[@TheMatrixxandRhodesShow]

Wow. This is the first time I have heard Barber's voice. He was my favorite composer of the 20th century. Adagio for Strings is one of the greatest pieces ever written and I love the violin concerto and cello concerto. It is very sad that he was very sad at the end of his life.

[@nickdavis965]

His cello concerto is INSANE!

[@meredith218461]

The young pianist/interviewer certainly had the measure of the incredibly difficult fugue from Barbers famous piano sonata. A fascinating interview.

[@belialah]

Yea right? He plays it like nothihg.

[@greatmomentsofopera7170]

Very moving to watch this. I adore Barbers music and it's lovely to see him so alert and witty. In earlier interviews he is much more reserved and withheld. One of the great masters.

[@DavidBennettThomas]

Wow! Thanks so much for posting this. I live about a mile from Barber's grave.

[@gabriellapax]

Thank you Sam Barber for enriching our lives with your music...

[@tommyron]

I have nothing but love for this. My sincere thanks to everyone involved with producing it and bringing it here.

[@richardfloeckher4650]

This is the first time I've ever heard Barber's voice. Such a moving and hilarious interview. Thank you so much for posting. I should go get back to his Nocturne. Peace.

[@johnrandolph6121]

It's funny that you say that because I had also never heard his voice until a few years ago...except for his singing voice on that Dover Beach recording. Imagine that, a composer of his stature and there is so little out there in terms of interviews. Check this out, I bet you'll really like it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/laixn62Ki8yBZpo Also, I have a recording of Barber rehearsing his second symphony with the Boston Symphony. It's very interesting. I'll try to get that up here.

[@makyhsmakyhs6766]

He is contemporary composer lack of his appearance because of him he was not fonde of media

[@hannesheinz720]

His pronounciation is almost british!

[@pauls.9228]

So touching to see this program, and to hear the great Samuel Barber in words and music. What a charming, urbane man he was. Wonderful to experience this birthday tribute, thanks so much for sharing.

[@heterosectional]

"Dover Beach" is a downer. I liked the excerpt from Souvenirs played at the beginning by the Toccos. Sam is a really subdued guy. Never heard him speak before. Thanks for sharing! Souvenirs has such lovely dissonance. I especially like the opening waltz.

[@maxreger100]

Wonderful--so glad this was done---now, 40 years later, all these young soldiers are "venerable" artists we still celebrate. A superb time capsule.

[@jesusmagas7096]

maxreger100 39 years ago

[@Cheeks730]

Samuel is funny as hell lol.

[@adlfm]

Most classical composers were witty as hell, unlike many gatekeeping classical fans

[@MrMjp58]

Barber was such a consistently interesting composer.

[@charlessomerset9754]

Thank you for posting this. I had never heard Barber and I was thrilled to do so. I had always heard that he was renowned for his sense of humor. I can see it here. I love when the host refers to him as "one of the leading composers of the day", and he responds: "THE leading composer" without missing a beat. What a treat this was. I'm not sure if you're aware of it, but in the world of Trance, no less than six producers have done their own version of The Adagio, Ferry Corsten's and Tiesto's being the most famous. During its early years, this went a long way in establishing the tone and emotional impact of the genre. I encourage everyone to listen to them. They are masterpieces of electronic dance music. I think Sam would have been pleased.

[@charlessomerset9754]

@aldo auciello Thanks. Where is he buried? I would love to place flowers on his grave someday.

[@jimstokes6742]

ABSOLUTELY AWESOME PLAYING & great technical quality. Just right enough reverb/decay! & really great interview!

[@MsEbenoit]

So amazing to listen to Barber talk about his music after many years of listening to all his music. There is a hardly a piece of music of his that I have not heard at least a dozen times in different performances.

[@stevelawcomposer]

How amazing is this!!!??? Thank you for posting this incredible programme with the great Samuel Barber in person!!

[@mrg8433]

While beautiful, I tend to weep when I'm alone and I listen to Adagio; as I am reflecting on my particular human experience, it makes me feel mournful. My emotions dictate that I can only put music to it. Ironically, the man who wrote it is now making me laugh; hilarious in this video. All of a sudden, the legend appears as a mere mortal.

[@janetd5317]

Delightful ! Thanks so much...

[@beth_levin_piano]

Thank you!

[@fiddldd]

Esther Hinds has such a beautiful voice and sings Barber with such wonderful expression.

[@jimstokes6742]

Outstanding duo pianists doing Souvenirs! WOWSER!

[@LUCASMAK1]

Beautiful beautiful............beautiful. gd

[@lornafleur123]

I like the way he corrects him twice !

[@miniprepper8284]

Adagio is an anthem. I should like it it played at my death. It is the most beautiful musical rendition of life, love, and longing I have ever heard. No acquaintance of mine who hears it and sheds not a tear becomes my true friend.

[@leslieackerman4189]

Hesitation Tango is such a beauty

[@georgealderson4424]

I have not heard SB being interviewed and now wonder what sort of man he was - shy/humerous/arrogant/sad. Perhaps we will never know. Maybe we should let him and all artists speak through their work alone

[@marubeau]

Beautiful way to describe ...

[@petersturmey2789]

@@marubeau I love this. Its amazing to hear him play. I think you got his character just right. I imagine at this point he must have felt like life had done him wrong big time. His opera anthony and cleopatra --- which I like -- had bombed critically, his music was way out of fashion as with composers like walton etc., and he had broken up with Mennotti. I believe at this point he may have been a heavy drinker / alcoholic. I think this all shows in his demenour.

[@scronx]

Well, the only problem there is that a lifetime's perception of him as an unsmiling composer of unsmiling music gets confirmed. And he was Menotti's love match?

[@jesusmagas7096]

Recorded in 1977

[@prototropo]

This film is a treat, for so many reasons. I am very grateful for this priceless slice of music history, and one of my personal heroes.

[@belialah]

Ives and Barber my favorite American composers.

[@johnrandolph6121]

Ironically Barber hated Ives' music. I've never heard an Ives quote with regard to Barber butt I can't imagine he was a fan since he was fond of ridiculing conservative music.

[@belialah]

Thanks for the interesting info@@johnrandolph6121

[@yowzephyr]

At the end of this video when Barber is playing the piano wearing glasses, he kinda looks like Shostakovich. I of course say that as a compliment.

[@Barbapippo]

The "interviewer" is, in fact, a wonderful pianist.

[@donaldallen1771]

Indeed. I have admired Tocco's playing for many years.

[@steinway1901]

How closeted and severely colorless is the description of Samuel Barbers "friendship and collaboration" with Gian Carlo Menotti in James Tocco's introduction of the life of Samuel Barber. I suspect their meeting at Juilliard and subsequent relationship was a nuclear power plant of passion and creative exchange. Were they lucky enough to have had gay marriage, I would think it quite possibile that they would have married. James Tocco was (and still is?) a very kind teacher of piano at Indiana University Bloomington. His perfect performance of Barber's Fugue from the piano sonata seemed fast, but that is perhaps because I could not technically reach that tempo. I must say I missed a bit of Barber's sense of vocal line that my limitations forced on the piece. The String Quartet seemed very much a worthy competitor to the traditional "fuller" arrangements! 1977 seems so far away: reading from sheet music on stands, black and white broadcast, Big Ties for Barber and open shirt for Mr. Tocco, but not so in my mind.

[@sockratease]

Who is That fabulous pianist interviewing and playing the fugue?

[@johnrandolph6121]

James Tocco

[@itchy2345]

James Tocco is sooo young and slim!

[@Obaysch]

itchy2345 so? And Barber is transparently drunk in this video. Painful to listen to the gay Tocco's syncophantic wife laughing through this. Its an incredibly embarrassing video.

[@Wkkbooks]

you are a prune

[@JaredRedmondPianist]

@@Wkkbooks Haha Mark :))))

[@miniprepper8284]

@@Obaysch I often wonder if gay men channel their sexual procreative force into the arts. They choose a "dead end" with progeny. They seek to excel elsewhere. They bless us and they... may damn themselves.

[@Fan-Tomas]

ja miałem rok wte😊dy

[@hannesheinz720]

The American Benjamin Britten.

[@jefolson6989]

Barber looks like Brando /Vito....or is it just me?