Performing Arts : Recordings

“Modern American Vocal Works: Premiere Recordings, 1950-53”

Eleanor Steber, Leontyne Price, William Warfield, Jenny Tourel and others

Masterworks Heritage/Sony Classical

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Barber’s “Hermit Songs,” performed by Price, 27, with the composer at the piano; Steber and Warfield in their prime, singing music long identified with them; two important works of that legendary smartass, Virgil Thomson--one a setting of Max Jacob’s French-language “Stabat Mater,” the other a characteristically dead-on realization of Gertrude Stein’s verbal-genius text “Capital, Capitals.” All this and Ned Rorem’s mordant annotations too. What a decade it was.