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George Gershwin

White Singers In Hungary Claim To Be African-American, For An Opera

Performers rehearse in January 2018 for the controversial Hungarian State Opera production of George Gershwin's opera Porgy and Bess. Attila Kisbenedek/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Attila Kisbenedek/AFP/Getty Images

Music News

White Singers In Hungary Claim To Be African-American, For An Opera

The Gershwin estate stipulates that Porgy and Bess should be performed by an all-black cast. The Hungarian State Opera in Budapest reportedly asked its mostly white cast to say that they are black.

Has 'An American In Paris' Been Honking Up The Wrong Key?

George Gershwin's beloved An American In Paris features the sounds of taxi horns — but a musicologist argues we've been using the wrong ones. Creative Commons hide caption

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Creative Commons

Deceptive Cadence

Has 'An American In Paris' Been Honking Up The Wrong Key?

The composition is so popular that old-timey taxi horns Gershwin called for are rented by orchestras all over the country. But a musicologist says they've been using the wrong ones.

Has 'An American In Paris' Been Honking Up The Wrong Key?

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When Pop Broke Up With Jazz

Frank Sinatra captured by photographer William "PoPsie" Randolph during a 1943 concert. Author Ben Yagoda points to Sinatra as one of the interpreters who helped revive the Great American Songbook. William "PoPsie" Randolph/Courtesy of Riverhead hide caption

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William "PoPsie" Randolph/Courtesy of Riverhead

Author Interviews

When Pop Broke Up With Jazz

For the first half of the 20th century, Tin Pan Alley songwriters like Irving Berlin and the Gershwins dominated pop music. By the the 1950s, tastes had changed, and the music changed with them.

When Pop Broke Up With Jazz

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Astaire, Burns, Allen In 'Distress' In London Town
Warner Archives

Review

Movies

Astaire, Burns, Allen In 'Distress' In London Town

Fresh Air

George and Ira Gershwin wrote some of their best songs for movies — one of which, 1937's A Damsel in Distress, has just been issued by Warner Archives. Critic Lloyd Schwartz says it may be the oddest of the Gershwin brothers' films.

Astaire, Burns, Allen In 'Distress' In London Town

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L.A. Philharmonic Goes Gershwin In Opening Night Gala

Gustavo Dudamel leads the L.A. Philharmonic and pianist Herbie Hancock in an all-Gershwin season opener. Matthew Imaging/Los Angeles Philharmonic hide caption

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Matthew Imaging/Los Angeles Philharmonic

Classics in Concert

L.A. Philharmonic Goes Gershwin In Opening Night Gala

KUSC

Hear the whole concert with superstar conductor Gustavo Dudamel and guest pianist Herbie Hancock, in luscious and thrilling performances.

L.A. Philharmonic Goes Gershwin In Opening Night Gala

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'Porgy And Bess': Messing With A Classic

Audra McDonald (left) and Norm Lewis play the title characters in a new and controversial take on Porgy and Bess. Michael J. Lutch/Courtesy of the American Repertory Theater hide caption

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Michael J. Lutch/Courtesy of the American Repertory Theater

Music Interviews

'Porgy And Bess': Messing With A Classic

A new production of the classic Gershwin opera takes a surprisingly story-driven approach.

'Porgy And Bess': Messing With A Classic

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A Big, Phat 'Rhapsody In Blue'

Gordon Goodwin arranged "Rhapsody In Blue" for his Big Phat Band. Concord Music Group hide caption

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Concord Music Group

Music Interviews

A Big, Phat 'Rhapsody In Blue'

As is true for so many great musicians, the compositions of George Gershwin live on well after his death. Case in point: Jazz musician Gordon Goodwin has arranged Gershwin's beloved piece for his brassy Big Phat Band.

A Big, Phat 'Rhapsody In Blue'

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Evolution Of A Song: 'I Got Rhythm'

Judy Garland (right) sang "I Got Rhythm" in the 1943 movie version of the 1930s musical Girl Crazy. Courtesy of MGM hide caption

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Courtesy of MGM

A Blog Supreme

Evolution Of A Song: 'I Got Rhythm'

WBGO

When George Gershwin wrote "I Got Rhythm" for the 1930s musical Girl Crazy, he created one of the most catchy melodies in American history. But little did he know that his lovable song — apart from becoming a hugely popular jazz standard — would evolve into something far greater.

Matt Haimovitz And His Wayward Cello

The free-spirited cellist Matt Haimovitz. Steph Mackinnon hide caption

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Steph Mackinnon

Deceptive Cadence

Matt Haimovitz And His Wayward Cello

The classical cellist has meandered in many musical directions. He and his band of eight cellists have just released a new CD of jazz standards in fresh, new arrangements.

Hear Matt Haimovitz and Uccello play Gershwin's "Liza"

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Marin Alsop's Shared Musical Roots

Marin Alsop on Music

Marin Alsop's Shared Musical Roots

The Baltimore Symphony conductor chooses a season of music built on the belief that understanding where we come from, and celebrating diversity, can create a sense of continuity, history and belonging — not to mention some great concerts.

Hear Marin Alsop and Scott Simon Discuss Gershwin On 'Weekend Edition Saturday'

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'From The Top': 10 Years Of Classical Kids

Violinlist William Harvey teaches a student in the Philippines. From the Top hide caption

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From the Top

From the Top

'From The Top': 10 Years Of Classical Kids

The radio showcase for young musicians hits its 10-year mark and celebrates by checking back with some of its most illustrious alums. They include William Harvey, who played on the pilot edition of From the Top and now heads his own organization, promoting cultural harmony through music.

'From The Top': 10 Years Of Classical Kids

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Rhapsody In Blue: Gershwin At His Greatest

Leonard Bernstein. Getty Images hide caption

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Getty Images

The NPR Classical 50

Rhapsody In Blue: Gershwin At His Greatest

Leonard Bernstein does full justice to the still racy and spontaneous score of Rhapsody In Blue in this 1959 recording. As both conductor and pianist, he brings a smoky, sultry jazziness to the piece.

Ted Libbey And Fred Child Recommend Gershwin's Rhapsody In Blue

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Bold Beginnings: The Art Of The Opening Notes

An attention-grabbing opening can be the key to a successful composition. Wikimedia Commons hide caption

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Wikimedia Commons

What Makes It Great

Bold Beginnings: The Art Of The Opening Notes

You never get a second chance at a first impression, the old adage goes. At the start of the new year, Rob Kapilow describes how it works for composers, who want to set a certain tone from the very opening notes of their works.

Hear What Makes A Great Musical Opening

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A Languid Look Back To Gershwin's 'Summertime'

American composer George Gershwin in 1925. Hulton Archive/Getty Images hide caption

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Hulton Archive/Getty Images

What Makes It Great

A Languid Look Back To Gershwin's 'Summertime'

Gershwin placed his song "Summertime" at the beginning of his opera Porgy and Bess, and for good reason. Pianist and composer Rob Kapilow demonstrates how, in just a few measures, Gershwin transports the listener into the languid world of Catfish Row.

Hear 'Summertime' And What Makes It Great

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Music

The Great American Opera: 'Porgy and Bess'

The Washington National Opera presents George Gershwin's landmark opera, in a performance originally webcast live on NPR.org from the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The show also includes interviews with director Francesca Zambello, conductor Wayne Marshall and more.

In Audio Introduction to 'Porgy and Bess'

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Studio Sessions

Rupa and the April Fishes: Multicultural Music

WNYC Radio

Rupa Marya was born to Indian parents in San Francisco and raised in the U.S., India, and the South of France. Now she sings in French, Spanish, English, and Hindi while maintaining a career as a physician.

Listen Now

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