Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue etc.

On this CD:

1. Cuban Overture
Composed by George Gershwin
Performed by Cleveland Orchestra
Conducted by Lorin Maazel

2. Girl Crazy, musical Suite
Composed by George Gershwin
Performed by Boston Pops Orchestra
Conducted by Arthur Fiedler

3. Funny Face, musical Overture
Composed by George Gershwin
Performed by Boston Pops Orchestra
Conducted by Arthur Fiedler

4. Rhapsody in Blue for piano & orchestra (orchestral version by F. Grofé)
Composed by George Gershwin
Performed by Cleveland Orchestra with Ivan Davis
Conducted by Lorin Maazel

5. Oh, Kay!, musical Overture
Composed by George Gershwin
Performed by Boston Pops Orchestra
Conducted by Arthur Fiedler

6. An American in Paris, tone poem for orchestra
Composed by George Gershwin
Performed by Cleveland Orchestra
Conducted by Lorin Maazel

7. Porgy and Bess, opera Suite
Composed by George Gershwin
Performed by Frank Chacksfield Orchestra
Conducted by Frank Chacksfield

Tracks:

Rhapsody In Blue
An American In Paris
Grand Canyon Suite: l. Sunrise
Grand Canyon Suite: ll. Painted Desert
Grand Canyon Suite: lll. On The Trail
Grand Canyon Suite: lV. Sunset
Grand Canyon Suite: V. Cloudburst

Amazon.com

Back in the 1950s and '60s, when George Gershwin was taken for granted more than he was respected, Leonard Bernstein was one of his only champions in high-classical-music circles, and to judge from these recordings, he got away with a lot. He would seem to be attempting to out-swagger Arthur Fiedler in the jazzier passages, but on the plus side, what can sound freeze-dried with some conductors has a welcome heat here, especially in An American in Paris. That piece receives one of its best-ever recordings and sounds great in the bright, clear recording venue, Brooklyn's Hotel St. George. However, Bernstein's tempo extremes tax the cohesion of Rhapsody in Blue. And Grofé's Grand Canyon Suite receives a sympathetic performance, though the acoustics of the Lincoln Center recording venue are so cavernous and diffuse you'd think it was recorded in the location of the title. --David Patrick Stearns

Customer Reviews:

Two Great Gershwin Recordings.......2007-06-27

I first heard the recording of "An American in Paris" on the radio, and I immediately concluded that this was a recording I needed to order. I ordered this CD solely for the recording of "An American in Paris", everything else was a bonus. "An American in Paris" was worth the price of the whole CD, but so is "Rhapsody in Blue", which I believe could easily be the definitive recording of this great work. Grofé's "Grand Canyon Suite" is a pleasant bonus, but not the substance of this recording. I would highly recommend this recording.

Gershwin fan.......2007-04-01

I am, definitely, absolutely and totally sold on Gershwin, so there is no question as to whether this CD is good or not, since it has Gershwin's two "hits", Rhapsody in Blue and An American in Paris, it is good and enjoyable. I only feel that the Ferde Grofé part, though outstanding, is too overpowering vis-a-vis the Gershwin part. But it is definitely an OK CD, no question about it.

Sorry - it's not the best........2007-03-13

This recording is okay in many respsects...but many people (yours truly) find it lacking in something. Dare I say the interpretation is slightly off?

Sorry - there are better out there.

Two of LB's quintessential recordings.......2007-01-09

This bids fair to be the most famous recording of American music ever made, so it's strange for the Amazon reviewer to condescend to LB's readings of Gerhswin, only to call it one of his best. The more renowned recording is Rhapsody in Blue with Bernstein at the piano and a pickup orchestra--no doubt recruited form the NY Phil.--that's bigger than a jazz band but still lean. (Arthur Fiedler's version, also famous, is far more square.) If anything, the American in Paris recording is better; I can't imagine a more vibrant reading. The orchestration is more symphonic than the Rhapsody, but LB makes sure that the rhythms swing. A ollector could stop and buy no other readings, but the ones by Andre Previn on EMI have updated sound and also come across with jazz spirit. The filler here is Grofe's once-famous Grand Canyon Suite, a negligible piece of fluff with truding donkeys and a thunderstorm. LB does it proud, however; one wonders if he even had to rehearse it--probably not.

Brilliant is the word!.......2006-11-29

No other director in the history has achieved such expression level and plain domain of the idiomatic lexicon of George Gershwin as Bernstein did it. There are two main reason for it, his enormous talent and his condition as pianist.

So, Gershwin may be very grateful because of that because for the posterity , the future newcomers in music will have the chance to analyze, scrutinize and explore all the factors that made possible this testimonial.

Totally recommended.

Average customer rating:

ENDORSED BY CAMPBELL PUBLISHING
Almost Flawless

Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue etc.

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00000DBVR
Release Date: 1998-10-20

Tracks:

Cuban Overture
Suite from Girl Crazy
Funny Face - Overture
Rhapsody In Blue
Oh, Kay! - Overture
An American In Paris
Suite From Porgy And Bess

Customer Reviews:

ENDORSED BY CAMPBELL PUBLISHING.......2006-06-19

A TRIBUTE TO THE BEST COMPOSER OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY...
George Gershwin was an All-American composer and musician. This man had a short life, but made a huge impact on the big band movement across the country.

Learn about the history of his life and his tremendous influence on American music.

Check it out at [...]

Almost Flawless.......2004-06-12

This could be titled "Gershwin's Greatest Hits" - I can't think of anything major missing from his orchestral pieces. The performances are very good throughout - Lorin Maazel and the Cleveland Orchestra took the more symphonic pieces, and the Boston Pops with Arthur Fiedler did the show tunes. Frank Chacksfield and His Orchestra contributed the suite from Porgy and Bess. The liner notes, by noted historian David McCullough, are a useful addition.

The only flaw I can recount is that the beginning first few notes of the famous clarinet solo in Rhapsody In Blue are a bit low in volume - I have to fiddle with the volume when listening to that piece. I don't think this is the only recording with that condition, though.

Tracks:

Catfish Row (Suite from Porgy and Bess): Introduction-Act I, Scene 1
Catfish Row (Suite from Porgy and Bess): Porgy Sings
Catfish Row (Suite from Porgy and Bess): Fugue
Catfish Row (Suite from Porgy and Bess): Hurricane-Act II, Scene 3
Catfish Row (Suite from Porgy and Bess): Good Morning' Brother-Act ...
American in Paris
Promenade
Rhapsody in Blue [*]
Cuban Overture [*]

Average customer rating:

Gershwin: Rhapsody In Blue Etc.

Manufacturer: Carlton Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Rhapsody In Blue
Concerto In F For Piano & Orchestra: Concerto For Piano And Orchestra: 1st movement: Allegro
Concerto In F For Piano & Orchestra: 2nd movement: Adagio
Concerto In F For Piano & Orchestra: Finale: Allegro agitato
An American In Paris

Earl Wild plays Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue/Porgy & Bess/etc.

Average customer rating:

Astounding pianism -- just don't listen to it in one sitting

Earl Wild plays Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue/Porgy & Bess/etc.
George Gershwin , and Earl Wild
Manufacturer: Ivory
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000007NLC
Release Date: 1997-01-01

Tracks:

Rhap in Blue
Seven Virtuoso Etudes: The Man I Love
Seven Virtuoso Etudes: I Got Rhythm
Seven Virtuoso Etudes: Embraceable You
Seven Virtuoso Etudes: Fascinatin' Rhythm
Seven Virtuoso Etudes: Somebody Loves Me
Seven Virtuoso Etudes: Liza
Seven Virtuoso Etudes: Lady be Good
Grande Fant on Porgy and Bess
Three Plds for Pno: Pld I. Allegro ben ritmato e deciso
Three Plds for Pno: Pld II. Andante con moto e poco rubato
Three Plds for Pno: Pld III. Allegro ben ritmato e deciso

Amazon.com

Earl Wild's first performance of Rhapsody in Blue was a live 1942 broadcast with Toscanini, which effectively typecast the young pianist as a Gershwin specialist. Three years later Wild was invited by Paul Whiteman (who premiered and first recorded the work with the composer at the keyboard) to participate in the work's first uncut recording, reissued for the first time here on CD. True, Glenn Osser's re-orchestration with an added 16-voice choir borders on kitsch; and Whiteman's conducting, though snappily paced, has the subtlety of an avalanche. Wild's breezy fingerwork and stylish flair, however, saves the day. The pianist serves up his own Seven Virtuoso Etudes on Gershwin songs and his Grande Fantasy on Porgy and Bess with slightly more dash and abandon in these 1976 recordings than his later Chesky remakes, and he delivers the Three Preludes with uncluttered directness. A delicious reissue. --Jed Distler

Customer Reviews:

Astounding pianism -- just don't listen to it in one sitting.......2005-03-20

This CD seems to overlap with another CD on the Chesky label. Both contain Earl Wild's Fantasy on Porgy and Bess and the seven Etudes based on Gershwin's music. This disc also has Rhapsody in Blue and Gershwin's Preludes.

Wild's pianistic facility is absolutely astonishing. He does some wonderful things with Gershwin's music. Highlights include "Embraceable You" and some of the sections of the Porgy and Bess Fantasy ("Summertime", "Bess, you is my woman now" and "It aint necessarily so" come to mind). He also plays the three Preludes with conviction and panache. However, Gershwin is not Chopin, and there is only so much one can mine from this music. If one tries to listen to this entire CD in one sitting, one can become aware of the piano as a percussion instrument. I am not certain if this is a function of the music (Gershwin), the pianist (Wild) or the recording (AAD). So often when I listen to a great pianist play solo work by Chopin, Liszt or Ravel, for example, I can lose myself in the music and virtually forget the medium. That doesn't happen with this recording for me.

Still, in small doses, this is an extraordinary disc, and I'm glad to own it.

Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue/ Catfish Row Etc Import

Average customer rating:

Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue/ Catfish Row Etc Import

Manufacturer: Emi
ProductGroup: Classical
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000K3A9M6

Product Description

1.rhapsody in blue 2.variations on "i got rhythm" catfish row SYMPHONIC SUITE FROM "PORGY AND BESS" 3.catfish row 4.porgy sings 5.fugue 6.hurricane 7.good mornin sistuh

Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue, Piano Concerto, An American in Paris, etc.

Average customer rating:

Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue, Piano Concerto, An American in Paris, etc.
Wayenberg , Ortiz , Previn , and London Symphony Orchestra
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00006486P
Release Date: 2002-08-19

Tracks:

Rhapsody In Blue - Daniel Wayenberg
I. Allegro - Daniel Wayenberg
II. Adagio - Andante - Daniel Wayenberg
III. Allegro Molto - Daniel Wayenberg
I. In B Flat
II. In C Sharp Minor
III. In E Flat Minor
'S Wonderful
The Man I Love
Strike Up The Band
Embraceable You
Oh Lady Be Good
Fascinating Rhythm

Tracks:

Un Americain A Paris - Felix Slatkin
Porgy And Bess, Tableau Symphonique - Felix Slatkin
Ouverture Cubaine - Andre Previn
Second Rhapsody, Pour Piano & Orchestre - Christina Ortiz

Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue, Concerto in F, etc.

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Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue, Concerto in F, etc.
Andre Kostelanetz , André Previn , Uan Rasey , George Gershwin , and André Kostelanetz Orchestra
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

English | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00000DSE2
Release Date: 1991-07-01

Tracks:

Rhapsody in Blue
Concerto in F/1. Allegro
Concerto in F/2. Andante Con Moto
Concerto in F/3. Allegro Agitato
Porgy & Bess/Catfish Row (Excerpts) - Jazzbo Brown/Before Dawn (Act 2, - George Gershwin
Porgy & Bess/Oh Bess, Oh Where's My Bess?