Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
This live recording, made in Berlin, documents the hugely successful 1952 revival of Porgy and Bess that toured the U.S. and numerous European cities. Although the production restored music that had been omitted from the work's previous performances, this version still contains almost an hour less music than the most "complete" modern recordings. In spite of that caveat, and the fact that this version uses a reduced orchestration, this gripping performance should be a cause for rejoicing for anyone who loves the opera. Conducted by Alexander Smallens, who led the opera's premiere under the composer's supervision, this version is a direct link to Gershwin's interpretive intentions for the music, and it's a compelling reading, driving and propulsive, but organically fluid. A great deal of credit goes to Robert Breen for the vitality of his naturalistic direction. The opening scene, for example, is a vibrant portrait of life on Catfish Row, full of chaotic talking, shouting, improvised singing, and drumming that continues throughout the whole scene, subsiding only when the drama demands it, as in the shocked silence that follows Robbins' murder and for the showcase musical numbers like "Summertime," and "A woman is a sometime thing." The realism of the approach brings the community fully to life and makes for an astonishing musical and dramatic experience, unlike anything one is likely to encounter in an opera house. The soloists are fabulous and their vivid characterizations are immediately engaging. Cab Calloway was a legendary Sportin' Life, and the originality and eccentricity of this performance fully validates his reputation. William Warfield's Porgy is intensely humane and honest, and he sings with warmth and without any affectation. Leontyne Price was only 25 when the recording was made, and Bess was her breakthrough role; while she doesn't have the dramatic presence of the other leads, she sings with thrilling fullness and passion. The noise level of the recording is initially distracting, but as the magic of the performance takes hold, it becomes less of an issue.
© TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From kr133,33/month
George Gershwin, Composer - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist - Eva Jessye, Other instrument - Choir of the Blevins Davis & Robert Breen production, Choir, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
George Gershwin, Composer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist - Eva Jessye, Other instrument - Helen Colbert, Artist, MainArtist - Choir of the Blevins Davis & Robert Breen production, Choir, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
George Gershwin, Composer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Cab Calloway, Artist, MainArtist - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - Jerry Laws, Artist, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist - Joseph James, Artist, MainArtist - Eva Jessye, Other instrument - Helen Thigpen, Artist, MainArtist - Choir of the Blevins Davis & Robert Breen production, Choir, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
George Gershwin, Composer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Howard Roberts, Artist, MainArtist - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist - Helen Thigpen, Artist, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
George Gershwin, Composer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist - Joseph James, Artist, MainArtist - Eva Jessye, Other instrument - Helen Colbert, Artist, MainArtist - Choir of the Blevins Davis & Robert Breen production, Choir, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
George Gershwin, Composer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Cab Calloway, Artist, MainArtist - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - Jerry Laws, Artist, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist - Joseph James, Artist, MainArtist - Eva Jessye, Other instrument - Choir of the Blevins Davis & Robert Breen production, Choir, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
William Warfield, Artist, MainArtist - Leslie Scott, Artist, MainArtist - George Gershwin, Composer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Howard Roberts, Artist, MainArtist - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - Jerry Laws, Artist, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist - Joseph James, Artist, MainArtist - Helen Thigpen, Artist, MainArtist - Georgia Burke, Artist, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
William Warfield, Artist, MainArtist - George Gershwin, Composer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
William Warfield, Artist, MainArtist - Leslie Scott, Artist, MainArtist - George Gershwin, Composer - Leontyne Price, Artist, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - John McCurry, Artist, MainArtist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Howard Roberts, Artist, MainArtist - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - Jerry Laws, Artist, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist - Joseph James, Artist, MainArtist - Helen Thigpen, Artist, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
William Warfield, Artist, MainArtist - George Gershwin, Composer - Leontyne Price, Artist, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - John McCurry, Artist, MainArtist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - Jerry Laws, Artist, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist - Joseph Crawford, Artist, MainArtist - Eva Jessye, Other instrument - Helen Thigpen, Artist, MainArtist - Choir of the Blevins Davis & Robert Breen production, Choir, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
William Warfield, Artist, MainArtist - Leslie Scott, Artist, MainArtist - George Gershwin, Composer - Leontyne Price, Artist, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - John McCurry, Artist, MainArtist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Cab Calloway, Artist, MainArtist - Howard Roberts, Artist, MainArtist - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - Jerry Laws, Artist, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist - Joseph James, Artist, MainArtist - Helen Thigpen, Artist, MainArtist - Georgia Burke, Artist, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
George Gershwin, Composer - Leontyne Price, Artist, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - John McCurry, Artist, MainArtist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist - Joseph James, Artist, MainArtist - Eva Jessye, Other instrument - Choir of the Blevins Davis & Robert Breen production, Choir, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
George Gershwin, Composer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist - Eva Jessye, Other instrument - Helen Thigpen, Artist, MainArtist - Choir of the Blevins Davis & Robert Breen production, Choir, MainArtist - Georgia Burke, Artist, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
George Gershwin, Composer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist - Joseph James, Artist, MainArtist - Eva Jessye, Other instrument - Choir of the Blevins Davis & Robert Breen production, Choir, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
Helen Dowdy, Artist, MainArtist - William Warfield, Artist, MainArtist - George Gershwin, Composer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist - Joseph James, Artist, MainArtist - Helen Thigpen, Artist, MainArtist - Walter Riemer, Artist, MainArtist - Sam Kasakoff, Artist, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
William Warfield, Artist, MainArtist - George Gershwin, Composer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist - Joseph James, Artist, MainArtist - Eva Jessye, Other instrument - Choir of the Blevins Davis & Robert Breen production, Choir, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
George Gershwin, Composer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist - Eva Jessye, Other instrument - Helen Thigpen, Artist, MainArtist - Choir of the Blevins Davis & Robert Breen production, Choir, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
William Warfield, Artist, MainArtist - George Gershwin, Composer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist - Joseph James, Artist, MainArtist - Eva Jessye, Other instrument - Helen Thigpen, Artist, MainArtist - Sam Kasakoff, Artist, MainArtist - William Veasey, Artist, MainArtist - Choir of the Blevins Davis & Robert Breen production, Choir, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
George Gershwin, Composer - Leontyne Price, Artist, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist - Eva Jessye, Other instrument - Choir of the Blevins Davis & Robert Breen production, Choir, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
George Gershwin, Composer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist - Joseph James, Artist, MainArtist - Eva Jessye, Other instrument - Helen Colbert, Artist, MainArtist - Choir of the Blevins Davis & Robert Breen production, Choir, MainArtist - Catherine Ayers, Artist, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
William Warfield, Artist, MainArtist - George Gershwin, Composer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Cab Calloway, Artist, MainArtist - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist - Eva Jessye, Other instrument - Helen Thigpen, Artist, MainArtist - Choir of the Blevins Davis & Robert Breen production, Choir, MainArtist - Georgia Burke, Artist, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
William Warfield, Artist, MainArtist - George Gershwin, Composer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist - Eva Jessye, Other instrument - Helen Thigpen, Artist, MainArtist - Helen Colbert, Artist, MainArtist - Choir of the Blevins Davis & Robert Breen production, Choir, MainArtist - Georgia Burke, Artist, MainArtist - Catherine Ayers, Artist, MainArtist - Moses LaMarr, Artist, MainArtist - Willis Daily, Artist, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
George Gershwin, Composer - Leontyne Price, Artist, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Cab Calloway, Artist, MainArtist - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist - Joseph James, Artist, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
William Warfield, Artist, MainArtist - George Gershwin, Composer - Leontyne Price, Artist, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
William Warfield, Artist, MainArtist - George Gershwin, Composer - Leontyne Price, Artist, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist - Georgia Burke, Artist, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
William Warfield, Artist, MainArtist - George Gershwin, Composer - Leontyne Price, Artist, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
DISC 2
George Gershwin, Composer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist - Eva Jessye, Other instrument - Choir of the Blevins Davis & Robert Breen production, Choir, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
George Gershwin, Composer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Cab Calloway, Artist, MainArtist - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist - Eva Jessye, Other instrument - Choir of the Blevins Davis & Robert Breen production, Choir, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
George Gershwin, Composer - Leontyne Price, Artist, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - John McCurry, Artist, MainArtist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
George Gershwin, Composer - Leontyne Price, Artist, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - John McCurry, Artist, MainArtist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist - Joseph Crawford, Artist, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
George Gershwin, Composer - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
Leslie Scott, Artist, MainArtist - George Gershwin, Composer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist - Joseph James, Artist, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
George Gershwin, Composer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist - Joseph James, Artist, MainArtist - Eva Jessye, Other instrument - Choir of the Blevins Davis & Robert Breen production, Choir, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
William Warfield, Artist, MainArtist - George Gershwin, Composer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist - Joseph Crawford, Artist, MainArtist - Helen Thigpen, Artist, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
William Warfield, Artist, MainArtist - George Gershwin, Composer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist - Joseph Crawford, Artist, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
Helen Dowdy, Artist, MainArtist - George Gershwin, Composer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist - Joseph Crawford, Artist, MainArtist - Catherine Ayers, Artist, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
George Gershwin, Composer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist - Eva Jessye, Other instrument - Ray Yeates, Artist, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
William Warfield, Artist, MainArtist - George Gershwin, Composer - Leontyne Price, Artist, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
William Warfield, Artist, MainArtist - George Gershwin, Composer - Leontyne Price, Artist, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
George Gershwin, Composer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist - Helen Colbert, Artist, MainArtist - Georgia Burke, Artist, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
George Gershwin, Composer - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
William Warfield, Artist, MainArtist - George Gershwin, Composer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Cab Calloway, Artist, MainArtist - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist - Eva Jessye, Other instrument - Helen Thigpen, Artist, MainArtist - Helen Colbert, Artist, MainArtist - Choir of the Blevins Davis & Robert Breen production, Choir, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
William Warfield, Artist, MainArtist - George Gershwin, Composer - Leontyne Price, Artist, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist - Eva Jessye, Other instrument - Helen Colbert, Artist, MainArtist - Choir of the Blevins Davis & Robert Breen production, Choir, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
Helen Dowdy, Artist, MainArtist - George Gershwin, Composer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - Jerry Laws, Artist, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist - Joseph Crawford, Artist, MainArtist - Eva Jessye, Other instrument - Choir of the Blevins Davis & Robert Breen production, Choir, MainArtist - Georgia Burke, Artist, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
George Gershwin, Composer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - John McCurry, Artist, MainArtist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
George Gershwin, Composer - Leontyne Price, Artist, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - John McCurry, Artist, MainArtist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist - Eva Jessye, Other instrument - Helen Colbert, Artist, MainArtist - Choir of the Blevins Davis & Robert Breen production, Choir, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
George Gershwin, Composer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist - Eva Jessye, Other instrument - Choir of the Blevins Davis & Robert Breen production, Choir, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
George Gershwin, Composer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Cab Calloway, Artist, MainArtist - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist - Georgia Burke, Artist, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
George Gershwin, Composer - Leontyne Price, Artist, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
George Gershwin, Composer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - Copyright Control, MusicPublisher - Alexander Smallens, Conductor, MainArtist - RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester, Ensemble, MainArtist - Eva Jessye, Other instrument - Choir of the Blevins Davis & Robert Breen production, Choir, MainArtist
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff, Audite Musikproduktion
Album review
This live recording, made in Berlin, documents the hugely successful 1952 revival of Porgy and Bess that toured the U.S. and numerous European cities. Although the production restored music that had been omitted from the work's previous performances, this version still contains almost an hour less music than the most "complete" modern recordings. In spite of that caveat, and the fact that this version uses a reduced orchestration, this gripping performance should be a cause for rejoicing for anyone who loves the opera. Conducted by Alexander Smallens, who led the opera's premiere under the composer's supervision, this version is a direct link to Gershwin's interpretive intentions for the music, and it's a compelling reading, driving and propulsive, but organically fluid. A great deal of credit goes to Robert Breen for the vitality of his naturalistic direction. The opening scene, for example, is a vibrant portrait of life on Catfish Row, full of chaotic talking, shouting, improvised singing, and drumming that continues throughout the whole scene, subsiding only when the drama demands it, as in the shocked silence that follows Robbins' murder and for the showcase musical numbers like "Summertime," and "A woman is a sometime thing." The realism of the approach brings the community fully to life and makes for an astonishing musical and dramatic experience, unlike anything one is likely to encounter in an opera house. The soloists are fabulous and their vivid characterizations are immediately engaging. Cab Calloway was a legendary Sportin' Life, and the originality and eccentricity of this performance fully validates his reputation. William Warfield's Porgy is intensely humane and honest, and he sings with warmth and without any affectation. Leontyne Price was only 25 when the recording was made, and Bess was her breakthrough role; while she doesn't have the dramatic presence of the other leads, she sings with thrilling fullness and passion. The noise level of the recording is initially distracting, but as the magic of the performance takes hold, it becomes less of an issue.
© TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 58 track(s)
- Total length: 02:19:23
- Main artists: William Warfield Leontyne Price Cab Calloway RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester Alexander Smallens
- Composer: George Gershwin
- Label: audite Musikproduktion
- Genre: Classical Opera
2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion 2008 Ludger Boeckenhoff Audite Musikproduktion
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.