Have to disagree with Pragmatist re St. Louis/Slatkin. On the Telarc recording there are MAJOR problems with tuning and intonation in the violins that make the piece nearly unlistenable to my ears.
I agree that the Argo disc of Barber music, conducted by Zinman, is an excellent collection of beautiful music, superbly recorded. I find it hard to believe anyone would claim that a recording made over, what, 50 years ago has never been surpassed, especially of a warhorse like Adagio. The Argo issue features heartfelt, exciting performances with lifelike sound.
From the 60's, New York Philharmonic conducted by the late Thomas Shippers. Sony/CBS Classical remastered it on CD a few years back. I'm pretty sure it is still available. A very Romantic and poignant interpretation.
There is a wonderful version, superbly recorded, by the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields conducted by Sir Neville Marriner that I have on an Argo LP from, I believe, the 1970's. I think it's been reissued on CD, which I've not heard. Other than the Barber it also has excellent performances of work by several other American composers, including, as I recall, Paul Creston and Virgil Thomson.
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