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George Gershwin

Thursday April 11, 2019

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

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

April 11, 2019 • 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.

Thursday October 20, 2016

Lara Downes' new album, America Again, comes out Oct. 28. Rik Keller/Courtesy of the artist. hide caption

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Rik Keller/Courtesy of the artist.

Review

Review: Lara Downes, 'America Again'

October 20, 2016 • Hear the pianist's portrait of America in a smartly programmed, wide-ranging anthology of solo piano works by composers past and present; male and female; straight and gay; white, black and Latino.

Tuesday March 1, 2016

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

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

March 1, 2016 • 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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Friday January 23, 2015

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

January 23, 2015 • 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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Monday November 19, 2012

Don't Forget The Music: A Well-Seasoned Thanksgiving Soundtrack

Hunting and gathering music for your Thanksgiving holiday? Check out our playlist. iStockphoto.com hide caption

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iStockphoto.com

Deceptive Cadence

Don't Forget The Music: A Well-Seasoned Thanksgiving Soundtrack

November 19, 2012 • Our suggestions for a playlist to accompany your Turkey Day, from cooking to dining to cleaning up, brimming with American sounds from all over the musical map.

Wednesday April 18, 2012

Talk Like An Opera Geek: Wading Into The 20th Century

Soprano Cheryl Barker (as Jenůfa) and tenor Peter Wedd (as Luca) sing in a production of Leoš Janáček's Jenůfa from Opera Australia. Patrick Riviere/Getty Images hide caption

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Patrick Riviere/Getty Images

Deceptive Cadence

Talk Like An Opera Geek: Wading Into The 20th Century

April 18, 2012 • Hear opera reinvent itself in the hands of cutting-edge composers facing an uncertain new century.

Tuesday November 15, 2011

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

Warner Archives

Review

Movies

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

Fresh Air

November 15, 2011 • 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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Monday September 26, 2011

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

September 26, 2011 • 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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Saturday August 20, 2011

'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

August 20, 2011 • 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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Thursday July 28, 2011

With Strings Attached: Michael Feinstein Sings Gershwin

From The Top

From the Top

With Strings Attached: Michael Feinstein Sings Gershwin

July 28, 2011 • Watch what happens when the celebrated cabaret artist sings Gershwin with a string quartet.

Friday June 10, 2011

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'

June 10, 2011 • 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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Wednesday February 9, 2011

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

February 9, 2011 • 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.

Tuesday November 9, 2010

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

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Steph Mackinnon

Deceptive Cadence

Matt Haimovitz And His Wayward Cello

November 9, 2010 • 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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Friday November 5, 2010

iStock

Deceptive Cadence

Dead Composers At Your Dinner Table

November 5, 2010 • Inspired by All Souls Day, this week we asked prominent musicians and our readers the same question: which long-gone composer would make the perfect dinner guest. Read some of the comments.

Saturday November 14, 2009

Marin Alsop on Music

Marin Alsop's Shared Musical Roots

November 14, 2009 • 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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