Gershwin: Second Rhapsody

Freddy Kempf and Andrew Litton with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra here join forces to present a disc of works by George Gershwin.

Rhapsody in Blue was originally arranged by Ferde Grofé for jazz band before being orchestrated for symphony orchestra. Here Kempf and the Bergen Philharmonic play this original version.

Concerto in F was a commission for Gershwin to write a ‘proper’ piano concerto, but still takes the rhythms, melodic structures and bluesy harmonies of popular music.

The disc is completed by Gershwin’s two remaining works for piano and orchestra, the Second Rhapsody and Variations on ‘I Got Rhythm’.

Jazzy swing and classical virtuosity – interpreted by an unusual ensemble: the sisters Katja and Marielle Labeque are one of today's best-known piano duos, and their Gershwin is almost as legendary as the music itself.

This release of five new titles in the American Classics series is devoted to the music of George Gershwin.

Arguably the best-known of all 20th-century composers, George Gershwin's music encompasses with equal skill both the classical and popular genres. He was born Jacob Gershowitz in Brooklyn, New York City, in September 1898 to immigrant Jewish parents. He died at the early age of 38 from a tumour in the brain.

Gershwin started to show an interest in music from about the age of ten and, although receiving some piano tutelage, was largely self-taught in composition. It was only later in his career that he received some formal instruction in composition.

Gershwin's first employment was as a song plugger for a New York music publishing company. His first song was published in 1916 and a year later he had his first commercial successes with the rag Rialto Ripples. This was followed, in 1919, by his first big international hit, Swanee. Now established as a successful composer of popular songs, between 1919 and 1933, Gershwin produced, in collaboration with his elder brother Ira, some of the most successful Broadway musicals.

In 1924 he was commissioned by the band leader, Paul Whiteman, to produce what was to be his first 'serious' composition, the Rhapsody in Blue. This was followed a year later by the Piano Concerto in F and, in 1928, by An American in Paris. His opera Porgy and Bess was first performed on Broadway in 1935.

These five releases present a comprehensive view of Gershwin's music from the Three Preludes for solo piano to the Piano Concerto, taking in a good selection of the show songs and improvisations.

Although a fine composer in his own right, Robert Russell Bennett's ultimate reputation rests on the work he did as an orchestrator/arranger of other people's music, mainly for Broadway and Hollywood musicals. In 1942 he arranged the music of his good friend Gershwin. Porgy and Bess: A Symphonic Picture includes most of the best-known songs from the opera. Second Rhapsody is a 1931 concert piece for piano and orchestra. The Piano Concerto in F was written in 1925 on a commission from the conductor and director Walter Damrosch. The Concerto shows considerable development in Gershwin's compositional technique, mainly because he orchestrated the entire work himself.

George Gershwin’s Concerto in F was a response to demands for a ‘proper concerto’ after the success of Rhapsody in Blue, avoiding programmatic content while providing a feast of tunes both uplifting and nostalgic. Originally intended as music for a film, his up-beat Rhapsody No. 2 describes the bustling Manhattan cityscape while under construction. Sourced from his hit musical Girl Crazy, I Got Rhythm Variations was Gershwin’s last full score.

Young soloist Orion Weiss is already established in the US and is rapidly making a name on the world concert stage. The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra lead by JoAnn Falletta already has a large Naxos following through acclaimed releases such as Corigliano’s The Red Violin (8559671).

Pianist Orion Weiss holds a leading position among American musicians of his generation. His impressive list of awards includes the Classical Recording Foundation’s Young Artist of the Year Award, the Gilmore Young Artist Award, an Avery Fisher Career Grant, the Gina Bachauer Scholarship at The Juilliard School and the Mieczysław Munz Scholarship.

JoAnn Falletta serves as Music Director of the Buffalo Philharmonic and Virginia Symphony in the United States and Principal Conductor of the Ulster Orchestra in Northern Ireland. Her Naxos recordings include the double GRAMMY® Award winning disc of works by John Corigliano and GRAMMY® nominated discs of works of Tyberg, Dohnányi, Fuchs, Schubert, and Respighi.

24-bit, 96 kHz Stereo and Surround Recordings

George Gershwin’s Concerto in F was a response to demands for a ‘proper concerto’ after the success of Rhapsody in Blue, avoiding programmatic content while providing a feast of tunes both uplifting and nostalgic. Originally intended as music for a film, his up-beat Rhapsody No. 2 describes the bustling Manhattan cityscape while under construction. Sourced from his hit musical Girl Crazy, I Got Rhythm Variations was Gershwin’s last full score. Pianist Orion Weiss is one of the most soughtafter soloists and collaborators of his generation of young American musicians.

Young soloist Orion Weiss is already established in the US and is rapidly making a name on the world concert stage. The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra lead by JoAnn Falletta already has a large Naxos following through acclaimed releases such as Corigliano’s The Red Violin (8559671).

This is a sequel to Lewis-Griffith’s 1994 Gershwin album (KTC1176). This collection includes favourites such as Summertime, and excerpts from Porgy and Bess, as well as interesting rarities. The artist has been able to complete the Manuscript of Novelette in Fourths by listening to piano roll performance by Gershwin himself and performs the work here together with Melody No.17 & Sleepless Night.