CLASSICAL
Virtuoso Voices
America's Memorial Anthem
America's Memorial Anthem Robert Spano
Samuel Barber's Adagio serves us well by David Srebnik It started out as the slow movement for a string quartet, but with the help of a major film - and its presence at prominent national events - Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings has become engrained in our national fiber as music for healing, faith and peace in times of sadness and loss.

Listen to Robert Spano by clicking on the audio bar above.

The original version of the Samuel Barber Adagio for Strings is heard in the composer's String Quartet. Barber also wrote a choral version of the Adagio using the text from the Latin prayer, Agnus Dei. Both versions of the Adagio are on a recent CD with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra conducted by Robert Spano. (Telarc 80673)

Next week: Robert Spano talks about the challenges and satisfaction of giving Barber's melody to the sopranos.
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