George Gershwin Simon Rattle Willard White - Gershwin Porgy and Bess White Haymon Blackwell Baker LPO Sir Simon Rattle (53 tracks) +Album Reviews

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George Gershwin, Simon Rattle, Willard White
Gershwin - Porgy and Bess / White · Haymon · Blackwell · Baker · LPO · Sir Simon Rattle
Genre: Classical

Track Listings (14) - Disc #1
1. Porgy And Bess: Act I, Scene 1: Introduction, Jasbo Brown solo, chorus (Jasbro Brown, Chorus)
2. Porgy And Bess: Act I, Scene 1: Summertime (Clara, Chorus)
3. Porgy And Bess: Act I, Scene 1: Oh, nobody knows when the Lawd is goin' to call (Mingo, Chorus, Sporting Life, Jake, Serena, Robbins, Jim, Clara, Crap Shooters (Male Chorus))
4. Porgy And Bess: Act I, Scene 1: Give him to me... Lissen to yo' daddy warn you... A woman is a sometime thing (Jake, Mingo, Sporting Life, Chorus, Baby, Clara, Robbins, Peter, Lily, Maria)
5. Porgy And Bess: Act I, Scene 1: Here's the ol' crap shark!... No, no, brudder (Jake, Mingo, Porgy, Sporting Life, Robbins, Jim, Maria, Serena)
6. Porgy And Bess: Act I, Scene 1: Here comes Big Boy! (Mingo, Jake, Jim, Crown, Porgy, Serena, Bess, Robbins, Chorus, Sporting Life)
7. Porgy And Bess: Act I, Scene 1: Six to make! (Sporting Life, Jim, Jake, Mingo, Porgy, Crown, Robbins, Maria, Serena, Bess, Chorus)
8. Porgy And Bess: Act I, Scene 1: Jesus, he's killed him!... That you, Sportin' Life? (Jake, Serena, Bess, Crown, Sporting Life, Maria)
9. Porgy And Bess: Act I, Scene 2: Where is brudder Robbins?... Come on, sister! (Chorus, Serena, Maria, Bess, Jake, Peter, Porgy, Clara)
10. Porgy And Bess: Act I, Scene 2: Overflow, overflow (Chorus, Porgy)
11. Porgy And Bess: Act I, Scene 2: A saucer-burying set-up, I see (Detective, Serena, Lily, Peter, Porgy, Policeman, Maria, Jake, Chorus)
12. Porgy And Bess: Act I, Scene 2: My man's gone now (Serena, Chorus)
13. Porgy And Bess: Act I, Scene 2: How de saucer stan' now, my sister? (Undertaker, Serena, Jake, Porgy)
14. Porgy And Bess: Act I, Scene 2: Oh, the train is at the station (Bess, Chorus)
Track Listings (20) - Disc #2
1. Porgy And Bess: Act II, Scene 1: Oh, I'm agoin' out to the Blackfish banks (Jake, Chorus)
2. Porgy And Bess: Act II, Scene 1: Mus' be you mens forgot about de picnic... Oh, I got plenty o' nuttin' (Annie, Jake, Clara, Porgy, Chorus, Serena, Maria)
3. Porgy And Bess: Act II, Scene 1: Lissen there, what I tells you... I hates yo' struttin' style (Maria, Serena, Sporting Life)
4. Porgy And Bess: Act II, Scene 1: Mornin', Lawyer, lookin' for somebody? (Maria, Frazier, Porgy, Bess, Chorus, Lily, Scipio, Annie , Serena)
5. Porgy And Bess: Act II, Scene 1: Boy! Come here, boy! (Archdale, Scipio, Clara, Serena, Mingo, Jake, Porgy, Frazier, Chorus)
6. Porgy And Bess: Act II, Scene 1: Buzzard keep on flyin' over (Porgy, Chorus)
7. Porgy And Bess: Act II, Scene 1: 'Lo Bess, goin' to picnic? (Sporting Life, Bess, Porgy)
8. Porgy And Bess: Act II, Scene 1: Honey, we sure goin' strut our stuff today!... Bess, you is my woman now (Jake, Porgy, Bess)
9. Porgy And Bess: Act II, Scene 1: Oh, I can't sit down (Chorus, Maria, Bess, Porgy)
10. Porgy And Bess: Act II, Scene 2: I ain't got no shame (Chorus)
11. Porgy And Bess: Act II, Scene 2: It ain't necessarily so... Shame on all you sinners (Sporting Life, Chorus, Serena, Maria)
12. Porgy And Bess: Act II, Scene 2: Crown! (Bess, Crown)
13. Porgy And Bess: Act II, Scene 2: Oh, what you want wid Bess? (Bess, Crown)
14. Porgy And Bess: Act II, Scene 3: Honey, dat's all de breakfast I got time for (Jake, Fisherman, Jim, Nelson, Maria, Chorus)
15. Porgy And Bess: Act II, Scene 3: Take yo' han's off me ( Bess, Serena, Maria, Peter, Porgy)
16. Porgy And Bess: Act II, Scene 3: Oh, doctor Jesus (Serena, Peter, Porgy, Lily)
17. Porgy And Bess: Act II, Scene 3: Oh dey's so fresh an' fine (Strawberry woman, Peter, Woman, Annie, Crab man, Porgy, Maria)
18. Porgy And Bess: Act II, Scene 3: Porgy, Porgy, dat you there, ain't it? (Bess, Porgy)
19. Porgy And Bess: Act II, Scene 3: I wants to stay here (Porgy, Bess)
20. Porgy And Bess: Act II, Scene 3: Why you been out on that wharf so long, Clara? (Maria, Clara)
Track Listings (19) - Disc #3
1. Porgy And Bess: Act II, Scene 4: Oh, Doctor Jesus (Chorus, Porgy, Clara, Serena, Sporting Life)
2. Porgy And Bess: Act II, Scene 4: One of dese mornings you goin' to rise up singin' (Clara, Chorus, Porgy, Bess)
3. Porgy And Bess: Act II, Scene 4: Oh, dere's somebody knockin' at de do' (Chorus, Peter, Maria, Lily, Mingo, Other woman)
4. Porgy And Bess: Act II, Scene 4: You is a nice parcel of Christians! (Crown, Serena, Bess, Porgy, Woman, Chorus)
5. Porgy And Bess: Act II, Scene 4: A red-headed woman make a choo-choo jump its track (Crown, Chorus, Clara, Bess)
6. Porgy And Bess: Act II, Scene 4: All right, I'm goin' out to get Clara... Oh, Doctor Jesus (Crown, Porgy, Chorus)
7. Porgy And Bess: Act III, Scene 1: Clara, Clara, don't you be downhearted... You low-life skunk, ain' you got no shame (Chrous, Sporting Life, Maria)
8. Porgy And Bess: Act III, Scene 1: Summertime... (Porgy kills Crown) (Bess, Porgy)
9. Porgy And Bess: Act III, Scene 2: Wait for us at the corner (Detective, Annie, Serena, Other woman, Coroner)
10. Porgy And Bess: Act III, Scene 2: Come out here, both of you (Dectective, Coroner, Porgy)
11. Porgy And Bess: Act III, Scene 2: Oh, Lawd, what I goin' do?... Oh, Gawd! They goin' make him look on Crown's face! (Porgy, Bess, Sporting Life, Policeman)
12. Porgy And Bess: Act III, Scene 2: Listen: There's a boat dat's leavin' soon for New York (Sporting Life, Bess)
13. Porgy And Bess: Act III, Scene 3: Introduction (Orchestra)
14. Porgy And Bess: Act III, Scene 3: Good mornin', sistuh!... It's Porgy comin' home (Chorus, Children, Mingo, Porgy)
15. Porgy And Bess: Act III, Scene 3: Dem white folks sure ain' put nuttin' over on this baby (Porgy, Lily)
16. Porgy And Bess: Act III, Scene 3: Here Mingo, what's de matter wid you all? (Porgy)
17. Porgy And Bess: Act III, Scene 3: Where's Bess? (Porgy, Maria, Serena)
18. Porgy And Bess: Act III, Scene 3: Bess is gone (Lily, Porgy, Serena, Mingo, Maria, Chorus)
19. Porgy And Bess: Act III, Scene 3: Oh Lawd, I'm on my way (Porgy, Chorus)

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CD Details

All Artists: George Gershwin, Simon Rattle, Willard White, Cynthia Haymon, London Philharmonic Orcherstra, The Glyndebourne Chorus, Harolyn Blackwell, Michael Forest, Colenton Freeman, Damon Evans, Gregg Baker, Marietta Simpson
Title: Gershwin - Porgy and Bess / White · Haymon · Blackwell · Baker · LPO · Sir Simon Rattle
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: EMI Classics
Release Date: 9/23/1997
Genre: Classical
Style: Opera & Classical Vocal
Number of Discs: 3
SwapaCD Credits: 3
UPC: 724355622020

Synopsis

Amazon.com essential recording

An uncut Porgy & Bess may well be too long in the theater. On CD, though, you can play one act at a time, letting Gershwin's wide-eyed, inexhaustibly inventive score run its course at leisure in the comforts of your rumpus room. Some listeners might find Sir Simon Rattle's tempos on the draggy side, but he's got Gershwin's syncopated idiom down cold. Similarly, the singers fuse Gershwin's prodigious musical demands with effortless, characterful diction more succesfully than in other recordings, abetted by engineering that is both atmospheric and richly detailed. Full texts and excellent annotations round off this stellar achievement based on the highly acclaimed 1989 Glyndebourne Opera production. --Jed Distler

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CD Reviews

An Essential Recording

wellio@wa.freei.net | Seattle | 01/05/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Like Amazon.com and the previous reviewer, I agree wholeheartedly. I have owned several recordings of this opera, as it is one of my favorites- and this is the best one out there.I had read all the opera guides and they ALL said this is the recording to get- I don't know why I bought so many others - but they have since been sold.The singing is immaculate and Rattle is the perfect Gershwin conductor.Like the previous reviewer I agree with "Bess you is my woman now." Willard White is the PERFECT Porgy and his "Oh, I got plenty o nuttin'" is simply incredible. Blackwell is wonderful as Clara and the only woman I've heard sing "Summertime" better is the great Leotyne Pryce! As well, Simpson is a great Maria and "I hates yo struttin' style" is so great. I love that song and just laugh every time- she has great delivery. The highlight for me though is Evans "It ain't necessarily so." He sings this the way it seems like it should be sung.Those are a few of the highlights on this incredible recording of a great American masterpiece. As well, it is very fitting that this recording is with an all African-American cast... It sounds natural to these singers, and they deliver a great package.I was very surprised to see negative reviews of this recording...because it is incredible.I rate this up there with Giulini's "Don Giovanni," Callas' "Tosca," and Karajan's "Die Meistersinger" as some of the greatest recordings ever.You won't regret this purchase. It's a classic!"

A Great Porgy and Bess

D. A Wend | Buffalo Grove, IL USA | 05/30/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I cannot agree with the prior reviews that found this recording of Porgy and Bess so wanting. Perhaps they grew up listening to a recording that they think is the gospel and don't want to consider another. I certainly cannot agree with them on the quality of the recording, which is excellent.The Rattle recording is among the very best of Porgy and Bess. Coming off performances at Glyndeborne, there is a confidence in all involved, singers, orchestra and chorus, that makes this a great rendering of George Gershwin's opera. It was the winner of the 1989 Gramophone Award for Opera, and I think if the Rattle recording received the highest number of votes there is a good reason behind it. I think an unbiased listener will find this a marvelous recording; one you will want to keep for years."

Magnificent recording of a memorable production

Stephen Swift | London UK | 10/15/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Rattle's Porgy was a revalation in the theatre (Glyndeborne and Royal Opera House) placing Gershwin firmly in the list of operatic masters of the C20th. This sumptuous recording brings it all back - I've owned it since it came out and listen to it frequently with enormous pleasure. The White/Hayman rendering of "Bess you is my woman now" is for my money one of the great operatic duets on record - beautiful and deeply moving. Rattle handles it all with consumate care and skill. Buy it."

WOW!!

Good Stuff | 06/05/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've been in love with "Porgy and Bess" for longer than I care to admit. Since before the now legendary excerpt recording starring the breathtaking Leontyne Price. Since before the Metropolitan Opera undertook its' epochal first staging of the work. Since before the fine first complete recording on Decca, conducted by Lorin Maazel.

But now, finally, someone got it exactly right. Or at least as "right" as mere mortals have a right to expect. IMHO there are no weaknesses at all in this recording. Any negativity about this stunner voiced by critics here, I suspect, carries with it personal agendas better left elsewhere.

Simply put, there are currently three complete recordings of Gershwin's masterpiece in the catalog. It is an embarrassment of riches, as each, in its' own way, is wonderful.

The first, conducted by the afore mentioned Maazel, is a fine effort, and a trailblazer. All involved are to be commended. As an analog recording, because of Decca's famous audio wizards, it holds its' own against the more modern versions.

Second is the RCA version, the first to benefit from digital recording, based on the Houston Grand Opera production and well conducted by John DeMain. It is fine. The recorded perspective is not to be faulted. The interpretation, leaning more to the Broadway musical side of the street, is perfectly valid and very well done. The artists, almost without exception, simply cannot be faulted. There is much to admire here, and admire it I do.

However, again IMHO, the Glyndeborne-derived version under discussion here comes out on top. The performers are exemplary in every way. The recorded sound is absolutely state-of-the-art, the orchestra and chorus are committed and, in every respect, remarkable, and the conducting is without peer.

This is, quite simply, one of the finest recordings of any opera ever made. It deserves pride of place in every serious opera (and musical) collection."

Actually, this version "Summertime" is the reason it's so pe

Elfgiva | Oregon | 06/05/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I found the prior reviewer's comment that "Summertime wasn't meant to be a funeral dirge..." to be interesting, although I'm afraid I can't agree. Like all great works of art, the vision of its author can perhaps never be completely understood, so must be left to interpretation by others.

And what an interpretation....this performance of Summertime has an atmospheric wistfulness which comforts and haunts like a sad lullaby, and brings tears to my eyes whenever I hear it. It moves me like almost nothing I've ever heard, because I can feel the ache in her soul across the decades, as she sings it."