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Gershwin: Porgy & Bess (Highlights) / Alsop, Philadelphia Orchestra
PENTATONE

Gershwin: Porgy & Bess (Highlights) / Alsop, Philadelphia Orchestra

$21.99

Details

Composer
GERSHWIN, GEORGE
Artist
Alsop
Format
SACD
Label
PENTATONE
Released
Jul 09, 2021
Catalog #
PTC5186883
UPC
827949088360

About

The Philadelphia Orchestra and conductor Marin Alsop present a live recording with highlights of Gershwin’s self-proclaimed American “Folk Opera” Porgy and Bess, together with a stellar cast and the Morgan State University Choir.

Since its premiere in 1935, Porgy and Bess has been one of the most significant early attempts to create American classical music inspired by African American styles such as jazz, Spirituals, and the blues. The hard-knock life at a Charleston waterfront tenement is presented here by an outstanding cast including Lester Lynch (Porgy), Angel Blue (Bess, Clara, and Serena), Chauncey Packer (Sportin’ Life) and Kevin Short (Crown and Jake).

Marin Alsop is one of today’s most acclaimed conductors, and the first woman to serve as the head of a major orchestra in the United States, South America, Austria and Britain. The Philadelphia Orchestra is one of the world’s preeminent orchestras. Multi-award-winning soprano Angel Blue is one of the most promising voices of her generation, while Chauncey Packer is arguably one of the greatest and sought-after Sportin’ Life interpreters today. Lester Lynch and Kevin Short each enjoy a flourishing stage career, as well as a vast PENTATONE discography.

REVIEW:

Soprano Angel Blue has already shown she can meet—and exceed—the vocal and dramatic demands of playing Bess in the recent Metropolitan Opera production, and so it's not surprising that her lovely voice is the highlight of this disc of excerpts from George Gershwin's emotionally powerful opera. Not only does Blue own Bess' classic songs but she also sings Clara's "Summertime" and Serena's "My Man's Gone Now" with equal parts power and finesse and an ability to grab the listener from the get-go. Lester Lynch's Porgy and Chauncey Packer's Sportin' Life provide superb vocal support and Marin Alsop conducts an expertly-chosen group of excerpts, strongly performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra and Morgan State University Choir.

-- The Flip Side

Tracklist 22 tracks

  1. 1 Act I Scene 1: Introduction 01:03
    Track
    1
    Title
    Act I Scene 1: Introduction
    Duration
    01:03
    Composer
    George Gershwin
    Ensemble
    Philadelphia Orchestra
    Conductor
    Marin Alsop
  2. 2 Act I Scene 1: Summertime (Clara, Chorus) 02:39
    Track
    2
    Title
    Act I Scene 1: Summertime (Clara, Chorus)
    Duration
    02:39
    Composer
    George Gershwin
    Performer
    Angel Blue
    Ensemble
    Morgan State University Choir, Philadelphia Orchestra
    Conductor
    Marin Alsop
  3. 3 Act I Scene 1: A Woman is a Sometime Thing (Jake, Mingo, Sportin' Life, Chorus) 02:17
    Track
    3
    Title
    Act I Scene 1: A Woman is a Sometime Thing (Jake, Mingo, Sportin' Life, Chorus)
    Duration
    02:17
    Composer
    George Gershwin
    Performer
    Kevin Short, Darrin Scott, Chauncey Packer
    Ensemble
    Morgan State University Choir, Philadelphia Orchestra
    Conductor
    Marin Alsop
  4. 4 Act I Scene 2: Where is brudder Robbins? (Woman, Chorus, Man, Serena, Maria, Bess, Porgy) 05:24
    Track
    4
    Title
    Act I Scene 2: Where is brudder Robbins? (Woman, Chorus, Man, Serena, Maria, Bess, Porgy)
    Duration
    05:24
    Composer
    George Gershwin
    Performer
    Angel Blue, Alexandria Crichlow, Lester Lynch
    Ensemble
    Morgan State University Choir, Philadelphia Orchestra
    Conductor
    Marin Alsop
  5. 5 Act I Scene 2: Overflow (Chorus, Porgy) 01:34
    Track
    5
    Title
    Act I Scene 2: Overflow (Chorus, Porgy)
    Duration
    01:34
    Composer
    George Gershwin
    Performer
    Lester Lynch
    Ensemble
    Morgan State University Choir, Philadelphia Orchestra
    Conductor
    Marin Alsop
  6. 6 Act I Scene 2: My Man's Gone Now (Serena, Chorus) 04:04
    Track
    6
    Title
    Act I Scene 2: My Man's Gone Now (Serena, Chorus)
    Duration
    04:04
    Composer
    George Gershwin
    Performer
    Angel Blue
    Ensemble
    Morgan State University Choir, Philadelphia Orchestra
    Conductor
    Marin Alsop
  7. 7 Act II Scene 1: I Got Plenty o' Nuttin' (Porgy, Women, Serena, Chorus, Maria) 03:08
    Track
    7
    Title
    Act II Scene 1: I Got Plenty o' Nuttin' (Porgy, Women, Serena, Chorus, Maria)
    Duration
    03:08
    Composer
    George Gershwin
    Performer
    Lester Lynch, Angel Blue, Alexandria Crichlow
    Ensemble
    Morgan State University Choir, Philadelphia Orchestra
    Conductor
    Marin Alsop
  8. 8 Act II Scene 1: Lo' Bess, Goin' to Picnic? (Sportin' Life, Bess, Porgy, Jake) 03:48
    Track
    8
    Title
    Act II Scene 1: Lo' Bess, Goin' to Picnic? (Sportin' Life, Bess, Porgy, Jake)
    Duration
    03:48
    Composer
    George Gershwin
    Performer
    Chauncey Packer, Angel Blue, Lester Lynch, Kevin Short
    Ensemble
    Philadelphia Orchestra
    Conductor
    Marin Alsop
  9. 9 Act II Scene 1: Bess, You is My Woman Now (Porgy, Bess) 05:22
    Track
    9
    Title
    Act II Scene 1: Bess, You is My Woman Now (Porgy, Bess)
    Duration
    05:22
    Composer
    George Gershwin
    Performer
    Lester Lynch, Angel Blue
    Ensemble
    Philadelphia Orchestra
    Conductor
    Marin Alsop
  10. 10 Act II Scene 1: Oh, I Can't Sit Down (Chorus, Maria, Bess) 02:17
    Track
    10
    Title
    Act II Scene 1: Oh, I Can't Sit Down (Chorus, Maria, Bess)
    Duration
    02:17
    Composer
    George Gershwin
    Performer
    Alexandria Crichlow, Angel Blue
    Ensemble
    Morgan State University Choir, Philadelphia Orchestra
    Conductor
    Marin Alsop
  11. 11 Act II Scene 1: Porgy, I Hates to Go (Bess, Porgy, Maria) 02:04
    Track
    11
    Title
    Act II Scene 1: Porgy, I Hates to Go (Bess, Porgy, Maria)
    Duration
    02:04
    Composer
    George Gershwin
    Performer
    Angel Blue, Lester Lynch, Alexandria Crichlow
    Ensemble
    Philadelphia Orchestra
    Conductor
    Marin Alsop
  12. 12 Act II Scene 2: It Ain't Necessarily So (Sportin' Life, Chorus) 04:05
    Track
    12
    Title
    Act II Scene 2: It Ain't Necessarily So (Sportin' Life, Chorus)
    Duration
    04:05
    Composer
    George Gershwin
    Performer
    Chauncey Packer
    Ensemble
    Morgan State University Choir, Philadelphia Orchestra
    Conductor
    Marin Alsop
  13. 13 Act II Scene 2: Hear What I Tell You (Serena, Maria, Bess, Crown) 03:10
    Track
    13
    Title
    Act II Scene 2: Hear What I Tell You (Serena, Maria, Bess, Crown)
    Duration
    03:10
    Composer
    George Gershwin
    Performer
    Angel Blue, Alexandria Crichlow, Kevin Short
    Ensemble
    Philadelphia Orchestra
    Conductor
    Marin Alsop
  14. 14 Act II Scene 2: Oh, What You Want wid Bess? (Bess, Crown) 04:08
    Track
    14
    Title
    Act II Scene 2: Oh, What You Want wid Bess? (Bess, Crown)
    Duration
    04:08
    Composer
    George Gershwin
    Performer
    Angel Blue, Kevin Short
    Ensemble
    Philadelphia Orchestra
    Conductor
    Marin Alsop
  15. 15 Act II Scene 3: Now de Time, oh Gawd - I Loves You, Porgy (Porgy, Bess) 07:16
    Track
    15
    Title
    Act II Scene 3: Now de Time, oh Gawd - I Loves You, Porgy (Porgy, Bess)
    Duration
    07:16
    Composer
    George Gershwin
    Performer
    Lester Lynch, Angel Blue
    Ensemble
    Philadelphia Orchestra
    Conductor
    Marin Alsop
  16. 16 Act III Scene 1: Introduction: Andantino dolente 01:20
    Track
    16
    Title
    Act III Scene 1: Introduction: Andantino dolente
    Duration
    01:20
    Composer
    George Gershwin
    Ensemble
    Philadelphia Orchestra
    Conductor
    Marin Alsop
  17. 17 Act III Scene 1: Clara, Clara, Don't You be Downhearted - Jesus Is Walkin' on de Water (Chorus) 02:20
    Track
    17
    Title
    Act III Scene 1: Clara, Clara, Don't You be Downhearted - Jesus Is Walkin' on de Water (Chorus)
    Duration
    02:20
    Composer
    George Gershwin
    Ensemble
    Morgan State University Choir, Philadelphia Orchestra
    Conductor
    Marin Alsop
  18. 18 Act III Scene 2: Cheer Up, Sistuh (Sportin' Life, Bess) 00:52
    Track
    18
    Title
    Act III Scene 2: Cheer Up, Sistuh (Sportin' Life, Bess)
    Duration
    00:52
    Composer
    George Gershwin
    Performer
    Chauncey Packer, Angel Blue
    Ensemble
    Philadelphia Orchestra
    Conductor
    Marin Alsop
  19. 19 Act III Scene 2: There's a Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon for New York (Sportin' Life) 02:25
    Track
    19
    Title
    Act III Scene 2: There's a Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon for New York (Sportin' Life)
    Duration
    02:25
    Composer
    George Gershwin
    Performer
    Chauncey Packer
    Ensemble
    Philadelphia Orchestra
    Conductor
    Marin Alsop
  20. 20 Act III Scene 2: You Low Crawlin' Hound! (Bess, Sportin' Life) 01:57
    Track
    20
    Title
    Act III Scene 2: You Low Crawlin' Hound! (Bess, Sportin' Life)
    Duration
    01:57
    Composer
    George Gershwin
    Performer
    Angel Blue, Chauncey Packer
    Ensemble
    Philadelphia Orchestra
    Conductor
    Marin Alsop
  21. 21 Act III Scene 3: Thank Gawd I's Home Again! (Porgy, Chorus, Maria, Serena, Mingo) 03:49
    Track
    21
    Title
    Act III Scene 3: Thank Gawd I's Home Again! (Porgy, Chorus, Maria, Serena, Mingo)
    Duration
    03:49
    Composer
    George Gershwin
    Performer
    Lester Lynch, Alexandria Crichlow, Angel Blue, Darrin Scott
    Ensemble
    Morgan State University Choir, Philadelphia Orchestra
    Conductor
    Marin Alsop
  22. 22 Act III Scene 3: Oh Lawd, I'm on My Way (Porgy, Chorus) 01:43
    Track
    22
    Title
    Act III Scene 3: Oh Lawd, I'm on My Way (Porgy, Chorus)
    Duration
    01:43
    Composer
    George Gershwin
    Performer
    Lester Lynch
    Ensemble
    Morgan State University Choir, Philadelphia Orchestra
    Conductor
    Marin Alsop