– Curtis Institute 70th Birthday for Samuel Barber – March 9, 1980 –
Something special this week. Today, March 9th 2025 would have been the 115th birthday of the legendary American Composer Samuel Barber (Born: March 9, 1910). So I thought I would run a concert celebrating his 70th birthday, which took place on March 9th 1980. Featuring The Curtis Institute of Music Orchestra conducted by Curtis alumni Calvin Simmons, conducting, and another Curtis alumni, Jaime Laredo as violin solo and soprano Marianne Casiello joining the group in a performance of Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915.
Also on the program is a performance of the Violin Concerto (featuring Laredo as solo), the 2nd Essay for Orchestra, Knoxville: Summer of 1915 (with Casiello as solo) and opens with the overture to The School For Scandal.
The concert is a little under 2 hours so it’s on 2 players. The first part is School for Scandal, Knoxville and the 2nd Essay for Orchestra. The second part is the Violin Concerto.
A memorable concert, not the least being one of the rare live recordings of the late and much admired conductor Calvin Simmons, whose early death in a boating accident robbed the music world of a very bright and promising light.
Enjoy and discover some Sam Barber while you’re at it.
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