Rhapsody In Blue, etc.

Editorial Reviews
American Record Guide
"His Rhapsody in Blue is genuinely rhapsodic, as good as any performance I Know."

About the Artist
During his nearly twenty-years as a full-time concert pianist, Frederick Moyer has established a vital musical career that has taken him to thirty-six countries and to such far-flung venues as Suntory Hall in Tokyo, Sydney Opera House, Windsor Castle, Carnegie Recital Hall, Tanglewood, and the Kennedy Center. He has appeared as piano soloist with world renowned orchestras including the Cleveland, Philadelphia and Minnesota Orchestras, the St. Louis, Dallas, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Baltimore,... read more

Album Description
In this program of familiar classics, ten of the works are preceded by preambules by Adolf von Henselt (1814-1889). A delightful genre that has faded from use during this century, a preambule (often called "prelude"), was a very short piece played before a larger work to prepare the listener for the tonality and mood to follow. These miniatures were improvised or composed to sound improvised. The practice of performing preambules is old, the earliest written examples dating back to the 15th century. Preambules were in vogue among pianists throughout the Classical and Romantic eras. Mozart wrote four of them (Capriccio, K. 395); Moscheles, fifty; Clementi, at least thirty; and Hummel, twenty-four. Among the most beautiful and effective is Henselt's set of twenty-four which covers all the major and minor keys.

Rhapsody In Blue, etc.

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.

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.

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

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

English | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
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:

Rhapsody In Blue: For Piano And Orchestra
Rhapsody In Blue: An American In Paris
Porgy And Bess: Summertime
Porgy And Bess: I Got Plenty Of Nothin'
Porgy And Bess: It Ain't Necessarily So
Piano Book: Rhapsody Themes
Piano Book: The Man I Love
Piano Book: They Can't Take That Away
Piano Book: I Got Rhythm
Song Book: He Loves And She Loves-Lady Be Good-Someone To Watch Over Me
Song Book: Someone Loves Me

Customer Reviews:

Great interpretations and song selection.......1999-07-19

This is a really good recording. They've selected kewl pieces to put into this collection. The Porgy And Bess songs are instrumental only, like jazz, and are really fantastic. The rendition of Summertime is hauntingly fantastic, just a great piece.

Gershwin: An American in Paria: Catfish Row; Promenade; Etc.

Average customer rating:

Gershwin: An American in Paria: Catfish Row; Promenade; Etc.

Manufacturer: Mobile Fidelity Koch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé Suites; Ma Mère l'Oye; Valses nobles et sentimentales [Hybrid SACD]
Ravel: Bolero; La Valse; etc. [Hybrid SACD]

ASIN: B0007LPMCI
Release Date: 2005-04-12

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: Delta
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

English | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

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

Average customer rating:

Aboluteley the best

Rhapsody In Blue, etc.

Manufacturer: Jri Recordings
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Sergei Rachmaninoff: Piano Works

ASIN: B00000IKTO
Release Date: 1996-06-01

Tracks:

Prbule in E flat Major (von Henselt)
Impromptu in E flat Major, Op. 90, No. 2 (Schubert)
Prbule in a minor (von Henselt)
Bagatelle "Fse", WoO 59 (Beethoven)
Prbule in C Major (von Henselt)
Etude in C Major, Op. 10, No. 1 (Chopin)
Etude in E Major, Op. 10, No. 3 (Chopin)
Prbule in c sharp minor (von Henselt)
Scherzo No. 3 in c sharp minor, Op. 39 (Chopin)
Prbule in F Major (von Henselt)
Melody in F (Rubinstein)
Prbule in d minor (von Henselt)
"Autumn Song (October)" from "The Seasons", Op. 37b (Tchaikovsky)
Prbule in E Major (von Henselt)
"Troika (November)" from "The Seasons" (Tchaikovsky)
Prbule in G Major (von Henselt)
"The Swan" from "Carnival of the Animals" (Camille Saint-Sa, arranged by Frederick Moyer)
Prbule in A flat Major (von Henselt)
"Clair de Lune" from "Suite Bergamasque" (Debussy)
"Rhapsody in Blue" (Gershwin)
Prbule in E flat Major (von Henselt)
Irish Tune from Country Derry ("Danny Boy") (arranged by Percy Grainger)

Album Description

In this program of familiar classics, ten of the works are preceded by preambules by Adolf von Henselt (1814-1889). A delightful genre that has faded from use during this century, a preambule (often called "prelude"), was a very short piece played before a larger work to prepare the listener for the tonality and mood to follow. These miniatures were improvised or composed to sound improvised. The practice of performing preambules is old, the earliest written examples dating back to the 15th century. Preambules were in vogue among pianists throughout the Classical and Romantic eras. Mozart wrote four of them (Capriccio, K. 395); Moscheles, fifty; Clementi, at least thirty; and Hummel, twenty-four. Among the most beautiful and effective is Henselt's set of twenty-four which covers all the major and minor keys.

Customer Reviews:

Aboluteley the best.......2006-09-01

Being a classical pianist, I have heard many collections of piano recordings and personally most all of Moyer's fantastic collection, but this CD is definitely a must own. It contains in my opinion the most beautiful and moving songs of classical music and covers the best of the classical, romantic and contemporary periods. A gem for sure. It is one of my most listened to CDs and Moyer's technique and especially his mastery of the expression and feel of each composer is unequalled by anyone. Cliburn and Rubenstein move over.

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: