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Conductor Simon Rattle's recording of Porgy & Bess with the London Philharmonic, the Glyndebourne Chorus, and soloists including Willard White (Porgy), Cynthia Haymon (Bess), and Damon Evans (Sporting Life) is the best full-length, classically oriented version of George Gershwin's "American Folk Opera" yet put on disc. The work has seen many partial treatments, and recordings have been skewed to more of a theater music or jazz interpretation. The only other version that compares with this one is Lorin Maazel and the Cleveland Orchestra's 1975 recording, also a three-hour, three-disc set. That one palls before this album, however. The main reason may be that, although Rattle's is technically a studio cast recording, he is using singers accustomed to playing the parts on-stage, and they bring their portrayals into the recording studio. White (who was also Maazel's Porgy and by far the best thing about that recording), made his European debut as Porgy at the Camden Festival, London, while Haymon and Evans have both appeared in productions of Porgy & Bess at Gyndebourne, Evans as recently as 1986. So, this recording has the quality of a cast recording from an all-star opera production that never was. The performers sound believable in their roles, not just as if they are singing the slangy lyrics as precisely as possible. The London Philharmonic under Rattle is up to the dramatic challenge, giving the music unusual force. The only real objection to the recording is that, like many opera albums, it seems to have been intended to give the listener a sense of the sound on a stage, with some singers seemingly a considerable distance from the microphones. As such, some fiddling with the volume control may be necessary. But that's a small price to pay for such a powerful interpretation of a work that is by now well established in the opera repertory.
© William Ruhlmann /TiVo
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George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Poet - John Fraser, Producer - Sir Simon Rattle, Conductor, MainArtist - Wayne Marshall, Piano, FeaturedArtist - Dubose Heyward, Poet - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra - Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, Chorus, FeaturedArtist - Dorothy K. Heyward, Poet
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
Harolyn Blackwell, Soprano Vocals - George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - Sir Simon Rattle, Conductor - Glyndebourne Chorus, Chorus, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. ℗ 1989 Warner Classics, Warner Music UK Ltd
Harolyn Blackwell, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra - Cynthia Clarey, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Damon Evans, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Bruce Hubbard, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Barrington Coleman, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Curtis Watson, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, Chorus, FeaturedArtist - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer - Johnny Worth, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
Harolyn Blackwell, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra - Damon Evans, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Bruce Hubbard, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Marietta Simpson, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Mervin Wallace, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Barrington Coleman, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, Chorus, FeaturedArtist - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer - Johnny Worth, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Maureen Brathwaite, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Cynthia Clarey, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Damon Evans, Tenor Vocals, MainArtist - Bruce Hubbard, MainArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Marietta Simpson, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Willard White, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Johnny Worthy, MainArtist - Barrington Coleman, Tenor Vocals, MainArtist - Curtis Watson, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer - Johnny Worth, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra - Gregg Baker, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Cynthia Clarey, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Damon Evans, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Cynthia Haymon, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Bruce Hubbard, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Willard White, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Mervin Wallace, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Barrington Coleman, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Curtis Watson, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, Chorus, FeaturedArtist - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer - Johnny Worth, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Sir Willard White/Cynthia Haymon/Damon Evans/Bruce Hubbard/Cynthia Clarey/Gregg Baker/Barrington Coleman/Johnny Worthy/Curtis Watson/Glyndebourne Chorus/London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra - Gregg Baker, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Cynthia Clarey, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Damon Evans, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Cynthia Haymon, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Bruce Hubbard, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Marietta Simpson, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Willard White, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Barrington Coleman, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Curtis Watson, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, Chorus, FeaturedArtist - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer - Johnny Worth, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Sir Willard White/Cynthia Haymon/Damon Evans/Bruce Hubbard/Cynthia Clarey/Marietta Simpson/Gregg Baker/Barrington Coleman/Johnny Worthy/Curtis Watson/Glyndebourne Chorus/London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Gregg Baker, MainArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Cynthia Clarey, MainArtist - Damon Evans, Tenor Vocals, MainArtist - Cynthia Haymon, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Bruce Hubbard, MainArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Marietta Simpson, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
Harolyn Blackwell, MainArtist - George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist - Glyndebourne Chorus, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Cynthia Clarey, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Cynthia Haymon, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Bruce Hubbard, MainArtist - Marietta Simpson, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Willard White, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Mervin Wallace, Tenor Vocals, MainArtist - Maureen Braithwaite, MainArtist - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, Chorus, FeaturedArtist - Sir Willard White, MainArtist - Jimi Malary, MainArtist - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer - Camellia Johnson, MainArtist
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra - Willard White, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, Chorus, FeaturedArtist - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer - Sir Willard White/Glyndebourne Chorus/London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra - Cynthia Clarey, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Bruce Hubbard, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Marietta Simpson, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Willard White, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Mervin Wallace, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Alan Tilvern, Narrator, FeaturedArtist - Ron Travis, Narrator, FeaturedArtist - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, Chorus, FeaturedArtist - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer - Maureen Brathwaite, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist - Glyndebourne Chorus, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Cynthia Clarey, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, Chorus, FeaturedArtist - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra - Cynthia Clarey, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Bruce Hubbard, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Willard White, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Autris Paige, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, Chorus, FeaturedArtist - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer - Sir Willard White/Bruce Hubbard/Autris Paige/Cynthia Clarey/London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Cynthia Haymon, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, Chorus, FeaturedArtist - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
DISC 2
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra - Bruce Hubbard, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, Chorus, FeaturedArtist - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
Harolyn Blackwell, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra - Cynthia Clarey, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Bruce Hubbard, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Marietta Simpson, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Willard White, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Paula Ingram, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, Chorus, FeaturedArtist - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer - Paula Ingram/Bruce Hubbard/Harolyn Blackwell/Sir Willard White/Cynthia Clarey/Marietta Simpson/Glyndebourne Chorus/London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist - Glyndebourne Chorus, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Cynthia Clarey, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Damon Evans, Tenor Vocals, MainArtist - Marietta Simpson, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist - Glyndebourne Chorus, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Linda Thompson, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - William Johnson, MainArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Cynthia Clarey, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Cynthia Haymon, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Marietta Simpson, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Willard White, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Paula Ingram, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Maureen Braithwaite, MainArtist - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, Chorus, FeaturedArtist - Sir Willard White, MainArtist - Richie Pitts, MainArtist - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer - Maureen Brathwaite, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
Harolyn Blackwell, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist - Glyndebourne Chorus, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Linda Thompson, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - William Johnson, MainArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Cynthia Clarey, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Bruce Hubbard, MainArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Willard White, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Barrington Coleman, Tenor Vocals, MainArtist - Ted Maynard, Narrator, MainArtist - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, Chorus, FeaturedArtist - Sir Willard White, MainArtist - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra - Willard White, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, Chorus, FeaturedArtist - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer - Sir Willard White/Glyndebourne Chorus/London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra - Damon Evans, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Cynthia Haymon, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Willard White, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer - Sir Willard White/Cynthia Haymon/Damon Evans/London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra - Cynthia Haymon, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Bruce Hubbard, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Willard White, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Dorothy K. Heyward, Composer - Sir Willard White/Cynthia Haymon/Bruce Hubbard/London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra - Cynthia Haymon, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Marietta Simpson, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Willard White, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, Chorus, FeaturedArtist - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer - Sir Willard White/Cynthia Haymon/Marietta Simpson/Glyndebourne Chorus/London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist - Glyndebourne Chorus, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, Chorus, FeaturedArtist - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Sir Simon Rattle, Conductor, MainArtist - Glyndebourne Chorus, Chorus, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Craig Ruttenberg, Chorus - Cynthia Clarey, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Damon Evans, Vocals, MainArtist - Marietta Simpson, Vocals, MainArtist - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. ℗ 1989 Warner Classics, Warner Music UK Ltd
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Gregg Baker, MainArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Cynthia Haymon, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Gregg Baker, MainArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Cynthia Haymon, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Poet - John Fraser, Producer - Glyndebourne Chorus, Chorus, FeaturedArtist - Dorothy Heyward, Poet - Dubose Heyward, Poet - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra - Bruce Hubbard, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Marietta Simpson, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Curtis Watson, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Colenton Freeman, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Simon Rattle, Conductor, MainArtist
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Cynthia Clarey, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Cynthia Haymon, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Marietta Simpson, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Willard White, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Mervin Wallace, Tenor Vocals, MainArtist - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Sir Willard White, MainArtist - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra - Cynthia Clarey, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Willard White, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Mervin Wallace, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer - Sir Willard White/Cynthia Clarey/Mervin Wallace/Maureen Braithwaite/London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist - Maureen Brathwaite, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra - Marietta Simpson, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Willard White, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Mervin Wallace, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Paula Ingram, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Colenton Freeman, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer - Camellia Johnson, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Sir Willard White/Marietta Simpson/Mervin Wallace/Paula Ingram/Coleton Freeman/Anne Fridal/Camellia Johnson/London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra - Cynthia Haymon, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Willard White, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer - Sir Willard White/Cynthia Haymon/London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra - Cynthia Haymon, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Willard White, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer - Sir Willard White/Cynthia Haymon/London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
Harolyn Blackwell, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Marietta Simpson, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
DISC 3
Harolyn Blackwell, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra - Cynthia Clarey, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Damon Evans, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Willard White, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, Chorus, FeaturedArtist - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer - Paula Ingram/Camellia Johnson/Linda Thompson/Michael Forest/Raemond Martin/Autris Paige/Sir Willard White/Harolyn Blackwell/Damon Evans/Cynthia Clarey/Maureen Braithwaite/Glyndebourne Chorus/London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
Harolyn Blackwell, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra - Cynthia Haymon, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Willard White, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, Chorus, FeaturedArtist - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer - Sir Willard White/Cynthia Haymon/Harolyn Blackwell/London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra - Cynthia Haymon, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Marietta Simpson, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Mervin Wallace, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Barrington Coleman, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, Chorus, FeaturedArtist - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer - Mervin Wallace/Marietta Simpson/Maureen Braithwaite/Barrington Coleman/Linda Thompson/London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist - Maureen Brathwaite, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist - Glyndebourne Chorus, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Gregg Baker, MainArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Cynthia Clarey, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Cynthia Haymon, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Willard White, Baritone Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, Chorus, FeaturedArtist - Sir Willard White, MainArtist - Hyacinth Nicholls, MainArtist - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
Harolyn Blackwell, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist - Glyndebourne Chorus, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Gregg Baker, MainArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Cynthia Haymon, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, Chorus, FeaturedArtist - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist - Glyndebourne Chorus, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Linda Thompson, MainArtist - Gregg Baker, MainArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Willard White, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Autris Paige, MainArtist - Paula Ingram, MainArtist - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, Chorus, FeaturedArtist - Michael Forest, MainArtist - Sir Willard White, MainArtist - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer - Raemond Martin, MainArtist - Camellia Johnson, MainArtist
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist - Glyndebourne Chorus, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Damon Evans, Tenor Vocals, MainArtist - Marietta Simpson, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, Chorus, FeaturedArtist - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra - Cynthia Haymon, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Willard White, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer - Sir Willard White/Cynthia Haymon/London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Linda Thompson, MainArtist - Cynthia Clarey, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Paula Ingram, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Alan Tilvern, Narrator, MainArtist - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer - Billy J. Mitchell, Narrator, MainArtist
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra - Willard White, Baritone Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Alan Tilvern, Narrator, FeaturedArtist - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer - Billy J. Mitchell, Narrator, FeaturedArtist - Sir Willard White/Alan Tilvern/Billy J. Mitchell/London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra - Damon Evans, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Cynthia Haymon, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Willard White, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Ron Travis, Narrator, FeaturedArtist - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer - Sir Willard White/Cynthia Haymon/Damon Evans/Ron Travis/London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra - Damon Evans, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Cynthia Haymon, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra - Willard White, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Barrington Coleman, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, Chorus, FeaturedArtist - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra - Willard White, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer - Sir Willard White/Maureen Braithwaite/London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist - Maureen Brathwaite, Soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
George Gershwin, Composer - Ira Gershwin, Lyricist - John Fraser, Producer - Dubose Heyward, Lyricist - London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra - Willard White, FeaturedArtist, Bass-Baritone Vocals - Simon Rattle, Conductor - Dorothy K. Heyward, Writer - Sir Willard White/London Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle, MainArtist
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1989 Parlophone Records Limited
Album review
Conductor Simon Rattle's recording of Porgy & Bess with the London Philharmonic, the Glyndebourne Chorus, and soloists including Willard White (Porgy), Cynthia Haymon (Bess), and Damon Evans (Sporting Life) is the best full-length, classically oriented version of George Gershwin's "American Folk Opera" yet put on disc. The work has seen many partial treatments, and recordings have been skewed to more of a theater music or jazz interpretation. The only other version that compares with this one is Lorin Maazel and the Cleveland Orchestra's 1975 recording, also a three-hour, three-disc set. That one palls before this album, however. The main reason may be that, although Rattle's is technically a studio cast recording, he is using singers accustomed to playing the parts on-stage, and they bring their portrayals into the recording studio. White (who was also Maazel's Porgy and by far the best thing about that recording), made his European debut as Porgy at the Camden Festival, London, while Haymon and Evans have both appeared in productions of Porgy & Bess at Gyndebourne, Evans as recently as 1986. So, this recording has the quality of a cast recording from an all-star opera production that never was. The performers sound believable in their roles, not just as if they are singing the slangy lyrics as precisely as possible. The London Philharmonic under Rattle is up to the dramatic challenge, giving the music unusual force. The only real objection to the recording is that, like many opera albums, it seems to have been intended to give the listener a sense of the sound on a stage, with some singers seemingly a considerable distance from the microphones. As such, some fiddling with the volume control may be necessary. But that's a small price to pay for such a powerful interpretation of a work that is by now well established in the opera repertory.
© William Ruhlmann /TiVo
About the album
- 3 disc(s) - 53 track(s)
- Total length: 03:09:09
- Main artists: Sir Simon Rattle
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Warner Classics
- Genre: Classical
© 2005 EMI Records Ltd. ℗ 1989 The copyright in this sound recording is owned by EMI Records Ltd.
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