Join us for a week-long look at the life and soulful music of George Gershwin, including his Rhapsody in Blue, An American in Paris, and Porgy and Bess. A true American original, George Gershwin transcended musical categorization as he composed in almost any form: Broadway musicals, popular songs, symphonic works, and jazz. In only 38 years of life, Gershwin followed his curiosity without fear in building an astonishingly diverse oeuvre of compositions, including what Bill calls “an opera unlike any other opera,” Porgy and Bess. Bill explains Gershwin’s work and life, “flashing across the world like a comet,” and offering insights into what and who influenced him.
Gershwin, George
Playlist
Episode 1
Gershwin, Ira: Interview with Ira Gershwin (excerpt with Music in the background)
Ira Gershwin
George Gershwin
Facet 8100
:49
Gershwin, George: “I Got Rhythm”
William Bolcom, piano
Gershwin: Piano Music, Songs
Nonesuch 79151
1:17
Dvorák, Antonin: Humoresques, Op. 101 No.7 (excerpt)
David Golub, piano
Humoresque / David Golub
Arab 6706
1:15
Gershwin, Ira: Interview with Ira Gershwin (excerpt)
Ira Gershwin
George Gershwin
Facet 8100
:57
Joplin, Scott: “The Ragtime Dance”
Joshua Rifkin, piano
Scott Joplin: Piano Rags / Joshua Rifkin
Nonesuch 79159
1:05
Herbert, Victor: Naughty Marietta (excerpt)
Philharmonia Orchestra/ Foster; Hendricks, soprano
Barbara Hendricks – Operetta Arias
EMI 54626
3:12
Herbert, Victor: Naughty Marietta “Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life”
Madeline Kahn
Barbara Hendricks – Operetta Arias
EMI 54626
Romberg, Sigmund: The Student Prince “Drink, Drink, Drink”
Orch and Chorus/ Callini Lanza, tenor
Romberg: The Student Prince – The Desert Song
RCA 60048
1:01
Friml, Rudolf: Firefly “The Donkey Serenade”
Orchestra/ Rene; Lanza, tenor
Eine Unvergessene Stimme
RCA 60 328
1:44
Cohan, George: George M! Overture
NYC Opera Orchestra/ Gemignani
Masters Legacy Series, Vol. 1
Music Masters 67099
3:14
Handy, WC: “St. Louis Blues”
K. H. Handy, vocal
W. C. Handy Katharine Handy Lewis
Smithsonian Folkways 3540
1:52
Joplin, Scott: “The Ragtime Dance”
Joshua Rifkin, piano
Scott Joplin: Piano Rags / Joshua Rifkin
Nonesuch 79159
:52
Gershwin, George: “Rialto Ripples”
George Gershwin, piano
The Piano Rolls Vol. Two
Nonesuch 79370
1:53
Berlin, Irving: “Alexander’s Ragtime Band”
Smith, vocal
Alexander’s Ragtime Band
Sony 64922
:55
Gershwin, George: “Swanee”
Orchestra/ Dragon; Al Jolson, vocal
The Essential Collection – George Gershwin
West End 872
1:52
Gershwin, George: “Lullaby for String Orchestra”
St. Louis Symphony/ Slatkin
The Complete Gershwin (Works for Orchestra / Piano & Orchestra)
Vox 5007
7:22
Whiteman, Paul: Interview with Paul Whiteman
Paul Whiteman
The Essential Collection – George Gershwin
West End 872
2:36
Gershwin, George: Rhapsody in Blue
LA Phil/ Bernstein
Rhapsody In Blue · West Side Story: Symphonic Dances
DG 410025
17:09
Whiteman, Paul: CBC Interview with Paul Whiteman
Paul Whiteman
The Essential Collection – George Gershwin
West End 872
:40
Gershwin, George: Rhapsody in Blue
LA Phil/ Bernstein
Rhapsody In Blue · West Side Story: Symphonic Dances
DG 410025
1:20
Episode 2
Gershwin, George: Rhapsody in Blue (excerpt)
LA Philharmonic/ Bernstein
Rhapsody In Blue · West Side Story: Symphonic Dances
DG 410025
1:10
Milhaud, Darius: La Création du Monde (excerpts)
Lyon Opera Orchestra/ Nagano
Milhaud: La Création du Monde; Le Boeuf sur le Toit
Ultima 213472
2:55
Copland, Aaron: Piano Concerto, II
Seattle Symphony/ Schwarz; Hollander, piano
Piano Concerto; Appalachian Spring: Symphonic Ode
Delos 3154
9:46
Gershwin, George: Concerto in F for Piano and Orchestra, I.
San Francisco Symphony Orchestra/Tilson Thomas; Ohlsson, piano
George Gershwin: The 100th Birthday Celebration
RCA 68931
13:31
Gershwin, George: Concerto in F for Piano and Orchestra, II
San Francisco Symphony Orchestra/Tilson Thomas; Ohlsson, piano
George Gershwin: The 100th Birthday Celebration
RCA 68931
13:02
Bernstein, Leonard: On the Town “Lonely Town”
NY Philharmonic/ Bernstein
On The Town: On The Town: Lonely Town
DG 431737
3:25
Fred Astaire and Ira Gershwin: Interview with Fred Astaire
Ira Gershwin
Holst: The Planets, Op. 32
Facet 8100
:32
Gershwin, George: “Oh, Lady Be Good”
Ella Fitzgerald, vocals
Oh, Lady, Be Good! – Best Of The Gershwin Songbook
Verve 52981
4:00
Gershwin, George: Virtuoso Variations Fascinatin’ Rhythm
Earl Wild, piano
George On My Mind : An Evening With George Gershwin
Phil 436991
1:27
Gershwin, George: Three Preludes I. Allegro Ben RImato e Deciso (excerpt)
Joshua Bell, violin John Williams, piano
Gershwin Fantasy
Sony 60659
1:41
Episode 3
Levant, Oscar: Interview with Oscar Levant
Ira Gershwin
Levant Plays Gershwin
CBS 42514
:59
Gershwin, George: Concerto in F for Piano and Orchestra, II (excerpt)
San Francisco SO/ Tilson Thomas; Ohlsson, piano
George Gershwin: The 100th Birthday Celebration
RCA 68931
0:50
Gershwin, George: Concerto in F for Piano and Orchestra, II (excerpt)
San Francisco SO/ Tilson Thomas; Ohlsson, piano
George Gershwin: The 100th Birthday Celebration
RCA 68931
:52
Gershwin, George: Concerto in F, III
New York Philharmonic/ Kostelanetz; Levant, piano
Levant Plays Gershwin
CBS 42514
6:25
Oscar Levant: Interview with Oscar Levant
Ira Gershwin
Levant Plays Gershwin
CBS 42514
:59
Gershwin, George: An American in Paris
NY Phil/ Bernstein
Rhapsody in Blue / An American In Paris / Grand Canyon Suite
Sony 63086
18:22
Ravel, Maurice: Sonata for Violin and Piano, II. Blues
John Klibonoff, piano; Maria Bachman, violin
The Red Violin
Endeavour 102
5:30
Gershwin, George: S’Wonderful
Julie London, vocal
S Wonderful the Songs of George Gershwin
Pid 707640
1:35
Gershwin, George: Biding My Time
Cleo Laine, vocal
Gershwin Gold
Gold 8017
4:04
George Gershwin/ Rudy Vally: Interview with George Gershwin
George Gershwin
George Gershwin Remembered
Amerco 512923A
:53
Gershwin, George: “I Got Rhythm”
Ethel Merman, vocal
S Wonderful the Songs of George Gershwin
Pid 707640
1:00
Beethoven, Ludwig: Missa Solemnis (excerpt)
NY Phil & Westminster Choir/ Bernstein
The Royal Edition – Bloch: Sacred Services
Sony 47533
1:22
Interview and playing George Gershwin:
Interview and Performance w/ G. Gershwin
Orchestra George Gershwin
George Gershwin Remembered
Amerco 512923A
6:47
Gershwin, George: Variations on “I Got Rhythm”
Menuhin & Grappelli, violins
Gershwin: Fascinating Rhythm
EMI 85081
3:00
Episode 4
Gershwin, George: “The Man I Love”
Billie Holiday & her Orchestra
The Essential George Gershwin
Legacy 89913
3:08
Gershwin, George: Rhapsody No. 2 for Piano and Orchestra
LA Philharmonic/Thomas; Thomas, piano
Gershwin: Rhapsody In Blue
CBS 39699
14:13
Interview with G. Gershwin: Interview and Performance with G. Gershwin
George Gershwin
George Gershwin Remembered
Amerco 512923A
1:05
Gershwin, George and Ira: “The Man I Love”
Billie Holiday & her Orchestra
The Essential George Gershwin
Legacy 89913
3:08
Gershwin, Ira: Interview with Ira Gershwin
Gershwin, Ira
The Essential George Gershwin
Legacy 89913
1:00
Gershwin, George: Porgy & Bess (excerpts)
LPO/ Rattle
Gershwin – Porgy and Bess / White · Haymon · Blackwell · Baker · LPO · Sir Simon Rattle
EMI 749568
4:25
Gershwin, George: Porgy & Bess “Summertime”
Orchestra of St. Luke’s/Previn; Battle, soprano.
Previn: Honey and Rue; Barber: Knoxville
Gershwin: Porgy & Bess
DG 437787
2:31
Gershwin, George: Porgy & Bess “Bess, “You is My Woman Now” rehearsal”
Orchestra/ Gershwin; Duncan, baritone; Brown, soprano
George Gershwin Remembered
Amerco 512923A
5:09
Gershwin, George: “It Ain’t Necessarily So”
Smallens; Tibbett, baritone
Porgy & Bess
RCA 62376
3:03
Gershwin, arr. Heifetz: “It Ain’t Necessarily So”
Previn, piano; Mutter, violin
Gershwin: Preludes [arr. Heifetz]
DG 471500
2:38
Gershwin, George: “Sweet and Low Down”
London Symphony Orchestra/ Williams; Bell, violin
Gershwin Fantasy
Sony 60659
3:35
Gershwin, George: “Our Love is Here to Stay”
London Symphony Orchestra/ Williams; Bell, violin
Gershwin Fantasy
Sony 60659
3:47
Gershwin, George: “Our Love is Here to Stay”
Blossom Dearie
Once Upon A Summertime
Verve 517223
3:12
Gershwin, George: “There’s a Boat Dat’s Leavin’ Soon for New York”
Cab Calloway, vocal
The Essential George Gershwin
Legacy 89913
2:19
Episode 5
Gershwin, George: Porgy & Bess “Bess, You Is My Woman Now “
RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra/ Henderson; Price, soprano; Warfield, baritone
Opera’s Greatest Duets
RCA 62699
5:10
Gershwin, George: “I Loves You Porgy”
Orchestra of St Luke’s/ Andre Previn Kathleen Battle
Previn: Honey & Rue/Barber: Knoxville/Gershwin: Porgy And Bess
DG 437787
2:17
Gershwin, George: “I Loves You Porgy”
Bill Evans Trio
The Complete Village Vanguard Recordings, 1961
Riverside 4443
5:56
Gershwin, George: “Someone to Watch Over me”
Joseph Turrin, piano; Phil Smith, trumpet
Philip Smith plays Broughton, Turrin, Enescu, Tomasi,
MacDowell, Gershwin, Bernstein, Lane, Ewazen and Thompson
Gala 0516
3:41
Gershwin, George: “But Not For Me”
London Symphony Orchestra/ Williams; Bell, violin
Gershwin Fantasy
Sony 60659
4:21
Gershwin, George: “Hello, Good Morning”
Cy Walter, piano
Atlantic
Atlantic Album 8000 series
2:10
Gershwin, George: “Mine”
Ensemble/ Dick Hyman, piano
Dick Hyman’s Century of Jazz Piano (Arbors Piano Series, Volume 20)
Arbors Records ARCD 19348
2:56
Gershwin, George: “It Ain’t Necessarily So”
Joe Chindamo, piano
Dido’s Lament
Mo’OzArt MOZ001
6:41
Gershwin, George: “A Foggy Day”
Rosemary Clooney, vocal
The Essential George Gershwin
Sony J2K 89913
2:51
Gershwin, George: “How Long Has This Been Going On?”
Ensemble/ Karrin Allyson, vocal
In Blue
Concord Jazz 2106
5:38
Gershwin, George: They Can’t Take that away from Me
Fred Astaire With Johnny Green and His Orchestra
The Essential George Gershwin
Sony J2K 89913
3:08
Gershwin, George: “The Man I Love”
Billie Holiday & her Orchestra
The Essential George Gershwin
Legacy 89913
1:19
Gershwin, George: Prelude for Piano No. 2
Gershwin, George
The Essential George Gershwin
Sony J2K 89913
2:20
Gershwin, George: Porgy and Bess “Oh Lawd, I’m On My Way”
Orch/ Smallens; Tibbett, baritone
Porgy & Bess
RCA 62376
1:22