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Barber's Adagio for Strings

Conductor Leonard Slatkin reflects on the potent impact of the adagio that became America's 'national funeral music'. From 2002.

When Samuel Barber wrote his Adagio at the age of 26, he described it as "a knockout!".

But he could never have anticipated that it would become America's "national funeral music".

Leonard Slatkin talks about conducting it at the 'Last Night of the Proms' after 9/11 (11th September 2001).

Dana Captiano describes hearing it on a road trip across America.

George Little describes hearing it as his mother died.

Series about pieces of music with a powerful emotional impact.

Produced by Rosie Boulton

First broadcast on 麻豆社 Radio 4 in November 2002.

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Sat 21 Mar 2026 00:00

Credit

Role Contributor
Composer Samuel Barber

Broadcasts

  • Fri 4 Dec 2015 18:30
  • Sat 5 Dec 2015 00:30
  • Tue 21 Jul 2020 18:30
  • Wed 22 Jul 2020 00:30
  • Fri 20 Mar 2026 10:00
  • Fri 20 Mar 2026 16:00
  • Sat 21 Mar 2026 00:00

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