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Porgy & Bess
Topic Started: Jun 26 2013, 08:42 AM (1,901 Views)
Mobson
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Caught the last of the current series of Tales from the Stave yesterday, and what a treasure it was to listen to...Frances Fyfield visited the Library of Congress in Washington to see one of their most treasured possessions, George Gershwin's original score for his opera, Porgy and Bess, about the black ghetto in early 20th century South Carolina.

Not only is Frances joined by a conductor and the library's expert to discuss the complexity and craft of the work, but someone who has sung the role of Porgy to great effect, namely Solomon Howard of the Washington National Opera....to hear his deep dark sonorous voice is wonderful as he goes through Gershwin's original manuscript where he finds small but important changes from the texts he is used to, as well as changes that George Gershwin made to Dubose Heyward's lyrics, including famous songs like "Summertime" ...informative and when Solomon starts singing it's pure delight to listen to...

It is repeated on R4 on Sunday at 13.30 or listen now ... http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b02ykrd3
Edited by Mobson, Jun 26 2013, 12:31 PM.
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caissier
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<ok> definitely ....... a good listen. So tragic that he died so young. I remember a tv documentary where a friend ..... might have been Ira ..... said that George Gershwin remarked in passing that he could smell burning rubber when the friend couldn't. It was (supposed to be) an early symptom of the cancer from which he died.
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rumbaba
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I've been to Catfish Row - Charleston South Carolina
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dai Cottomy
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Maurice Ravel once met Gershwin at a party in New York. Gershwin thoroughly impressed Ravel with an impromptu performance of Rhapsody in Blue and "The Man I Love." Ravel apparently had such deep respect for Gershwin's natural melodic gift that he turned down Gershwin's request for composition lessons, telling him "it is better to write good Gershwin than bad Ravel, which is what would happen if you worked with me." (adding ruefully that Gershwin was earning far more than he was.)
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rumbaba
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Gershwin, Ravel lose?
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becky sharp
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Mobson
Jun 26 2013, 08:42 AM
....to hear his deep dark sonorous voice is wonderful
I agree ...what a voice! shiver down the spine time, listening to it!

I've just dragged myself away from the tennis for a little while to catch this before it disappears!

The film version, directed by Otto Preminger, had these two gorgeous looking people in the lead roles

Posted ImagePosted Image


Perfection... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apiq3VN2Ra8

Enjoyed this,Mobs....thanks for posting!
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Mobson
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<happy> Pleasure becks...but perhaps you wouldn't have missed it as it is repeated on Radio 4 on Sunday at 1.30pm <happy>
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becky sharp
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Mobson
Jun 27 2013, 01:59 PM
<happy> Pleasure becks...but perhaps you wouldn't have missed it as it is repeated on Radio 4 on Sunday at 1.30pm <happy>
Best strike whilst the iron's hot! ..(in case I forgot) <wink>
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Hugh Jampton
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I heard it and I'll be listening again on Sunday.
Truly delightful.
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May-Cee

Yep, this was good - as was the one about Copland's "Appalachian Spring" earlier in the series.

As indeed was the recent Gershwin COTW series - which showed him building up to his masterpiece.

Duke Ellington was among the first to criticise the privileged white man for his portrayal of poor blacks.
But Ellington was smart enough to realise, later on, that he was talking rubbish - so redeemed himself with some proper praise.

The Miles Davis / Gil Evans version is the one I play most often.
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caissier
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May-Cee
Jun 28 2013, 05:37 PM
good - as was the one about Copland's "Appalachian Spring" earlier in the series.

<ok> ..... and funny how it came to be named ..... nothing to do with the Appalachians .... or spring!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLAnuG1340g ..... (off-topic but nice)
Edited by caissier, Jun 28 2013, 05:51 PM.
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May-Cee

A good point, caissier, about Copland - who I have a wee obsession about.

That's why I started the "Best Is Noise" thread; so I could talk about these things.

And I surely did talk about them...

To myself.
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Mobson
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May-Cee
Jun 28 2013, 05:37 PM
Yep, this was good - as was the one about Copland's "Appalachian Spring" earlier in the series.
<ok> To listen to what May-Cee is referring to - It was the first of three in this current series (9) ....broadcast on 11th June, it's still available on i-player for 'over a year to listen'...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b02mxyy1
Edited by Mobson, Jun 29 2013, 05:57 PM.
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