A devoted tribute to the glory of Gershwin, this survey is going to explore the great Master from Brooklyn's production in both the Broadway repertoire and his amazingly innovative and ambitious symphonic efforts.
With the plausible exception of the Vaughan/Tilson Thomas album, all of the material presented here reflects my strong belief that Gershwin's sublime Songs have to be treated with historical care and philological approach. Harmonically among the most refined and sophisticated ever written, these melodies are little masterpieces enchanced by some of the wittiest and most delightful, elegant and memorable lyrics (thanks to the extraordinary artistic partnership with his brother Ira).
In fact, as a Gershwin freak and despite being a jazz lover myself, I happen to dislike the standardization process which led most of Gershwin's song to be trivialised in all sorts of arrangements, and most of all (a real crime for me) to be sung/played without the verse. Not only all of Broadway songs should always be performed with their verse, but in Gershwin's case these gems are often the best part of the song, which would make little sense when deprived of its magnificent intro (the same applies to many of the Masters of the Great American Songbook, from Porter to Kern, from Berlin to Rodgers, from Weill to Arlen).
Amongst the many "must-haves" offered here are the beautiful political satire comedies "Let 'Em Eat Cake" and "Of Thee I Sing" and the great Broadway classics of the 20s and 30s, Gershwin's early opera "Blue Monday" and of course one of the highest peaks of 20th Century music - "Porgy & Bess". Plus, a number of astounding recordings of Gershwin's great concert hall repertoire, including "Rhapsody in Blue" both in the composer's own draft for jazz band and in Ferde Grofé's beautiful transcription for large orchestra.
Not to be missed is the album "Gershwin Performs Gershwin", featuring the great composer himself on radio shows recorded in New York in the mid-30s - a great chance to hear his debonair voice introducing the music he would play and conduct on air, and even some sharp banter with the host of the radio show, before or after the sponsor's commercial (...Feen-A-Mint chewing-gum laxatives!).
George Gershwin
Of Thee I Sing
Let 'Em Eat Cake
Maureen McGovern, Larry Kert, Jack Gilford, George Dvorsky.
New York Choral Artists & Orchestra of St. Luke's
Michael Tilson Thomas
CBS 42522 (1987)
Must-Have Album!
READ MORE...
5/27/2013
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