Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, completed in 1935, is considered the first important American opera, for which he collected Afro-American music and dialects in Charleston.
Cultural Impact
Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings, composed in 1936, was voted the "saddest classical work" in a 2004 BBC survey, but was also featured in "The Simpsons."
Recording & Production
This album was recorded at the Hans Rosbaud-Studio, Baden-Baden/SWR, from January 14-18, 2019, with Tobias Hoff as Recording Producer & Edit.
Performer Biography
German Brass, the leading brass ensemble from Germany, feels at home with American composers like Bernstein and Gershwin, as well as European masters like Bach and Wagner.
Album & Artwork
The album title, "Trip to America," reflects German Brass's musical journey into the "New World" of American music.
Composer's Artistic Vision
George Gershwin, born in Brooklyn to Russian immigrants, believed that "Jazz is the result of the energy stored up in America" and sought to create "authentic" American music.
Critical Reception
The New York Times called Gershwin's Porgy and Bess an "American folk opera," and Gershwin specified that only black vocalists could perform it on stage.
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