Stage@Seven: Barber: Adagio for Strings – Andrés Orozco-Estrada

Frankfurt Radio Symphony and Frankfurt Radio Big Band live!


Frankfurt Radio Symphony
Andrés Orozco-Estrada, Conductor

Samuel Barber:
Adagio for Strings

Charity Concert for the Rheingau Music Festival
Eberbach Monastery, 19 June 2020

Note:
In accordance with the current restrictions imposed by the Corona pandemic in Germany, this livestream series currently only features ensembles up to chamber orchestral size. The required minimum distances are respected. Streaming is also carried out in a reduced setting.
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Hinweis:
Entsprechend den derzeit geltenden Einschränkungen im Rahmen der Corona-Pandemie in Deutschland treten in dieser Livestream-Reihe aktuell nur Ensembles bis kammerorchestraler Größe auf. Die erforderlichen Mindestabstände werden dabei respektiert. Auch das Streaming erfolgt in einem reduzierten Setting.

[LucienMarine]

Adagio for Strings is arguably his best known work by Samuel Barber, arranged for string orchestra from the second movement of his String Quartet, Opus 11. The composer completed the arrangement in 1936, the same year he wrote the quartet. The Adagio could have been composed much earlier, so far removed is its writing from what was done in the 1930s. It really has a particularly penetrating meditative character, close to certain religious canticles. The slow tempo, the stretched rhythms (some notes last 10 beats) contribute to give elevation to this piece. The repetition of the main theme, alternated with a second theme, from beginning to end gives the impression of a litany. The main theme is ascending. It is written like the long melismas of the Middle Ages, supported
by the other voices in broad chords which follow one another while sliding. The extended middle section continues the main playing
of the cellos in a mezzo-soprano tessitura. The first phrase returns like a refrain played in several voices, sometimes shortcut, or well concluded differently. Its various movements lead to a wide crescendo which culminates in a fortissimo peak of all the voices, the violins playing in superacute register. An extended silence and a few chords follow with a brief series of elegiac strings for this part
of the work, announcing the muted reprise of the beginning, leading after a last melisma to the high point. This composition is considered by many to be the most popular of all 20th century orchestral works. The Adagio by Samuel Barber has some similarities with the Adagietto from Symphony No. 5 by Gustav Mahler. Music is a beautiful refuge against the imperfection of the world. *Lucien*

[MaxPower-grrl]

Fantastic! Thank you! And NEVER a YouTube ad interruption!

[robertbettens]

It's impossible to hold your tears with this version of the famous Barber Adagio.

[bbb]

A masterpiece by Barber. Beautifully played. I have thought about what this piece says to me, but it will probably not be the same for others. It drains one after listening.

[吉本恵利子]

I was so moved that my eyes were filled with tears.

[alvarito]

Maestro Orozco-Estrada and excellent soloists on HR FRANKFURT Sinfonie, your performance muchas gracias, viel Danke!!!
Für weinen, to weep, and para llorar, per piangere... That beautiful it is!!

[ifitfitz]

What this ensemble is doing is simply brilliant. Every piece a treasured moment. Thank you, one and all... you are what we need now.

[october-he]

This piece hurts so beautiful...can you feel the pain...can´t breath...merci hr Sinfonieorchestra and Andre Orozco Estrada...just wonderful, just wonderful!

[angelacangucu]

Lindo! Grata a todos, Maestro Andrés.

[sacredkinetics.lns.]

`
The beauty of sadness.
Wonderful performance.

[alainrobynsds]

un adagio d'excellence, un chemin vers les étoiles

[horx]

Merci mille fois . Cette version est encore plus déchirante

[maxlever]

Superior performance and recording from all involved. Thank you all for your hard work and dedication to your art.

[ricardoaristapuigferrat.]

Cada ocasión que escucho el Adagio de Barber, me obliga a reflexionar sobre el proceder de la humanidad y el mío propio.

[marikomariko]

Sublime. I came here right after your open-air Concert " Ruslan and Ludmila : Overture " .  What a beautiful contrast!

[notaire]

Wunderschöne und tiefempfundene Aufführung dieses kompakten und perfekt komponierten Meisterwerks mit seidigen Tönen aller Streichinstrumente. Der intelligente Maestro dirigiert das ausgezeichnete Orchester im fließenden doch gut phrasierten Tempo und mit sorgfältig kontrollierter Dynamik. Klingt wie ein Requiem zur allen gefallenen in dieser Coronavirus Krise!

[RechtsstaatBRD]

Ein STück bei dem ich fast immer weinen muss weil es mich so berührt. Erst recht bei der klasse Leistung dieses Klangkörpers :-)

[TheAlvescola]

Magnífico. Soa como uma oração no fundo da alma. Ah! É muito lindo. Obrigado, muito obrigado por nos agraciar com tanta beleza.

[sheboyganshovel]

For all the times I've listened to this music, this is the first time it's registered that through the entire climactic section, there is no bass.

I know, I know, I do tend to fixate on the cellos. But I'm amazed it never struck me before.