Samuel Barber

Barber, Samuel (1910–1981), U.S. composer. Initially, he composed in a late romantic style. His music is generally tonal. Major works include two symphonies, Adagio for Strings (1936), and the cycle Knoxville: Summer of 1915 (1947) for soprano and orchestra. He also wrote the operas Vanessa (1956) and Anthony and Cleopatra (1966), the latter commissioned to open the new Metropolitan Opera House in New York.