Gems of the Past – Samuel Barber's 'Medea'
25th October 2017
Medea Sarkophag, Altes Museum
Lewis Segal, Los Angeles Times
The emotive dramatic power and relentless drive of Samuel Barber's Medea — Cave of the Heart awaits your reinterpretation. Originally created for the Martha Graham Dance Company in 1947, Barber's score is the result of his complete immersion in the complex and ever reverberating meanings of myth.
'Medea concerns aspects of the problem that always was a compelling interest of Barber — possessive, destructive love that feeds upon itself. Jealousy is the motor force behind this powerful, aggressive score; the work is an act of catharsis for audience and composer alike'.
— Paul Wittke
Medea — Cave of the Heart (1947) - 29 Minutes
Orchestration: 1(pic).1(ca).1.1/1000/pf/str (11 or more players)
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Related works
Medea's Dance of Vengeance, Op. 23a (1955) - 14 Minutes
Orchestration: 3(pic).2+ca.2+Ebcl+bcl.2+cbn/4331/timp.3[+]perc/hp.pf/str
Listen on Spotify
Medea's Dance of Vengeance (1955), Wind Ensemble - 14 Minutes
Orchestration: 3+2pic.2+ca.4+Ebcl+acl+bcl+Ebcbcl.2asx+tsx+barsx.2+cbn/
43[+3cnt]31+euph/timp.xylo.perc/hp.pf/db
Medea: Suite for Orchestra, Op 23 (1947) - 23 Minutes
Orchestration: 2(pic).2(ca).2.2/2[+2].2.2.0/timp.3perc/hp.pf/str
Listen on Spotify
Peruse the Score
Medea — Cave of the Heart
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