Gershwin: Porgy and Bess

Leona Mitchell (Artist), Williard White (Artist), McHenry Boatwright (Artist), Florence Quivar (Artist), Barbara Hendricks (Artist), George Gershwin (Composer), Lorin Maazel (Conductor), Cleveland Orchestra & Chorus (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Cleveland Orchestra & Chorus
• Conductor: Lorin Maazel
• Composer: George Gershwin
• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 3
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B0000041QM
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #383,883 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Act One, Scene One: Introd/Jasbo Brown Blues - Cleveland Chor/Joela Jones

2. Act One, Scene One: Summertime/Oh, nobody knows when the Laws is goin' to call... - Barbara Hendricks/James Vincent Pickens/Samuel Hagan

3. Act One, Scene One: A woman is a sometime thing (Lissen to yo' daddy warn you) - Arthur Thompson

4. Act One, Scene One: Here come de honey man - William Brown/Arthur Thompson

5. Act One, Scene One: They pass by singin'/Here comes Big Boy!/Don't you ever let a woman grieve you - Willard White/James Vincent Pickens

6. Act One, Scene One: Oh, little stars/Touch that money an' meet yo' Gawd! - Willard White/McHenry Boatwright

See all 12 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Act Two, Scene One: It takes a long pull to get there (Oh, I'm agoin' out to the Blackfish banks) - Arthur Thompson

2. Act Two, Scene One: Oh, I got plenty o' nuttin'/Lissen there, what I tells you - Willard White/Barbara Conrad

3. Act Two, Scene One: I hates yo' struttin style/Mornin', Lawyer, lookin' for somebody?... - Barbara Conrad/Donald Zucca

4. Act Two, Scene One: Buzzard Song (Look out, dat's a buzzard!)/Lo, Bess, goin' to picnic? - Willard White/Francois Clemmmons

5. Act Two, Scene One: Bess, you is my woman now - Willard White

6. Act Two, Scene One: Oh, I can't sit down - Willard White/Leona Mitchell/Cleveland Chor

See all 15 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. Act Two, Scene Four: Oh, Doctor Jesus - Alpha Floyd/Isola Jones/Barbara Conrad/William Brown/James Vincent Pickens/Christopher Deane

2. Act Two, Scene Four: Oh, de Lawd shake de Heavens/One of dese mornings you goin' to rise up singin' - Willard White/Leona Mitchell/McHenry Boattwright/Florence Quivar/Barbara Hendricks...

3. Act Two, Scene Four: Oh, dere's somebody knockin' at de do'/You is a nice parcel of Christians... - Willard White/Leona Mitchell/McHenry Boattwright/Florence Quivar/Barbara Hendricks...

4. Act Two, Scene Four: A red-headed woman/Jake's boat in de river/Oh, Doctor Jesus - McHenry Boatwright/Leona Mitchell/Sextet

5. Act Three, Scene One: Clara, Clara, don't you be downhearted/Crown, Crown, don't you.../Summertime - Cleavland Chor/Leona Mitchell

6. Act Three, Scene One: Interlude (Death of Crown) - Willard White

See all 15 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT, December 22, 2006

By 

KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT (SCOTTS VALLEY, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gershwin: Porgy and Bess (Audio CD)

Having listened to and been at many performances of Porgy and Bess, this really is the best recording.

The voices, the caricatures of the characters sparkle. The music comes alive. The conductor, solo artists and chorus shine.

As far as CD MANIAC is concerned, I don't think there is an understanding that the performance was to have been as a true, full-blown opera performed to the extent of Carmen or La Boheme. I think this is where the mis-understanding.

Gershwin, being that absolute genius he was, shows categorically in this performance that his "folk" opera could dazzle as well as any other in the showcase of "traditional" operas. So what a composer, what a piece!

That is the whole point to this recording.

Shame on CD MANIAC.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Astonishing, breathtaking, wonderful., August 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Gershwin: Porgy and Bess (Audio CD)

Have had this for years on LP and am astonished to learn that it's not in stock on CD. For Gershwin fans it's a "must own", in my opinion the best Porgy & Bess ever recorded. It's the full score, apparently the first ever, and some of the greatest music in the opera is not familiar. Please Amazon.com - tell me it's now on CD and you will ship it to me. PLEASE!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite P & B!, July 4, 2007

By 

marknyc - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gershwin: Porgy and Bess (Audio CD)

I've heard many versions of this work, but this Grammy-award winning recording (1976 Best Opera Recording) stands out as having the best performances. Francois Clemens (from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood!) shows some real chops as Sportin' Life (hitting all the high notes), and Florence Quivar sings the BEST "My Man's Gone Now" ever recorded, not being afraid to drop to her chest voice for intense dramatic effect. Maazel brings out all the sparkle in Gershwin's long orchestral sequences.

I've had this on LP for years, and finally found a used library CD. It's the only Porgy I can really listen to - the others pale in comparison.