Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue, Piano Concerto, Variations on "I Got Rhythm" & Preludes

Featuring

Leon Botstein
Mark Bebbington
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
George Gershwin

Did you know?

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Composition History

The Rhapsody in Blue was composed by George Gershwin for a concert less than six weeks away, after he read a newspaper report announcing he was writing a 'jazz symphony' for it.

Notable Performances

The premiere of Rhapsody in Blue, part of 'An Experiment in Modern Music', was attended by many famous classical musicians and was considered the sensation of the evening.

Historical Context

The immediate post-World War I era saw the rise of mass-communication through radio, motion pictures, and international recordings, which helped new music travel quickly.

Performer Biography

Mark Bebbington, the pianist on this album, is known for his discs of British Music for SOMM, which have received unanimous critical acclaim and multiple 5-star reviews in BBC Music Magazine.

Composer Biography

George Gershwin was already an established composer of popular music in America by 1923, known for his first major hit song 'Swanee', which was promoted by Al Jolson.

Compositional Technique

Gershwin's Concerto in F, a full-scale three-movement work, shows distinct advances in technique over the Rhapsody, with a more secure structure and distinctive, lean orchestration.

Compositional Technique

The orchestration for Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue was entrusted to Ferde Grofé, who knew the band's players' characteristics, making it impractical for anyone else, including Gershwin, to do it.