Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue; An American in Paris / Grofé: Grand Canyon Suite [Extra tracks, Original recording remastered]

George Gershwin (Composer), Ferde Grofe (Composer), Leonard Bernstein (Composer), Leonard Bernstein (Conductor, Performer), Columbia Jazz Combo (Performer), Columbia Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), New York Philharmonic (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Leonard Bernstein, Columbia Jazz Combo
• Orchestra: Columbia Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic
• Conductor: Leonard Bernstein
• Composer: George Gershwin, Ferde Grofe, Leonard Bernstein
• Audio CD (September 30, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks, Original recording remastered
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000CD5GP
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #97,078 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Recordings, Remastered, February 8, 2008

By 

T. Schmalz (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue; An American in Paris / Grofé: Grand Canyon Suite (Audio CD)

If you're looking for Gershwin, these are the quintessential recordings. "Rhapsody in Blue" comes from a 1958 recording featuring the Columbia Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Leonard Bernstein (who is also the pianist). Simply put, there is no finer version. The piano and orchestra are well balanced and they bring out the most wonderful colors in this showpiece. Recorded the following year, "An American in Paris" is everything it should be - sexy, exciting, romantic, American. The horns sound especially nice.

The third item on this CD is Ferde Grofé's classic: "Grand Canyon Suite", featuring John Corigliano on solo violin, accompanied by Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. You just can't beat it. There are three bonus tracks; Bernstein's "Prelude, Fugue and Riffs" played by the Columbia Jazz Combo.

This is just a great recording of wondeful American music - a must for everyone. The Penguin Guide to Compact Discs writes, "Bernstein's 1958-59 coupling set the standard by which all subsequent pairings of "An American in Paris" and "Rhapsody in Blue" came to be judged...the performance of "An American in Paris" is vividly characterized, brash and episodic...with the great blues tune marvelously timed and phrased as only a great American orchestra can do it."

Give it a try.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gift for my husband, August 18, 2010

By 

Joan Givens - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue; An American in Paris / Grofé: Grand Canyon Suite (Audio CD)

My husband needed background music for a DVD he was creating. We recently visited several National Parks and wanted magestic music to match magestic scenery.