In Defense of Samuel Barber.

The main focus of the article is a debate over the critical reception of Howard Pollack's biography of American composer Samuel Barber, particularly addressing a review by Richard M. Berrong. Two readers defend Barber’s legacy, emphasizing the enduring quality of his piano and chamber works and challenging Berrong’s negative assessment of Barber’s opera Antony and Cleopatra and his supposed lack of a distinctive style. Berrong responds by clarifying his critique, noting that his negative comments were limited to Antony and Cleopatra and were based on Pollack’s own observations, while acknowledging the importance of Barber’s chamber music. The exchange highlights differing perspectives on Barber’s place in American classical music and the reception of his compositions today.