Customer Reviews

Porgy & Bess

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One of the landmark scores of the American musical theatre stage, George and Ira Gershwin's PORGY AND BESS, which premiered on Broadway at the Alvin Theatre in 1935, tells the story of a tender but ultimately doomed affair, set against the seamy backdrop of Catfish Row. It was filmed by Otto Preminger in 1959, starring Dorothy Dandridge and Sidney Poitier in the leads, with a support cast led by Pearl Bailey, Sammy Davis Jr., and Diahann Carroll.

At the tender age of nineteen, Diahann Carroll first burst onto the Broadway scene in 1956's HOUSE OF FLOWERS, which featured book and lyrics by Truman Capote. Playing the ingenue role of Ottilie, she all but stole the show from leading lady Pearl Bailey with her haunting rendition of "I Never Has Seen Snow". In 1962, Richard Rodgers selected her for the lead role of Barbara Woodruff in "No Strings", his first post-Hammerstein musical, which netted Carroll a Tony Award.

In 1959, Diahann Carroll re-visited the timeless score of PORGY AND BESS with the assistance of Andre Previn and his jazz Trio. Previn provides the gorgeous arrangements which soar and glide around Carroll's voice, and her renditions of "I Loves You Porgy" and "Summertime" are totally mesmerising. She holds the listener completely in her thrall, and this score, whilst written in the 1930s and recorded umpteen times over the years, almost sounds newly-minted here; and a lot of that does come back to Previn's jazz arrangements which are both sparse and lush, depending on the mood.

This is yet another very welcome reissue by the good people at DRG. For Diahann Carroll fans, this is a fascinating chance to hear her perform one of the all-time classic musical theatre scores with a refreshing jazz-twist.

[DRG 8501]

No, It never graced Billboard's Pop Charts, No 'Hit' Singles released, but a very enjoyable album for this period (Early 60's). If you're a lover of the lady's voice.....You'll be VERY pleased!!! And then being backed by The Andre Previn Trio doesn't hurt either.

I really like the music to Porgy and Bess but this one is a totally different variation. I didn't like all the jazz music and her voice didn't come across very well. I couldn't even understand some of the words. There must be a better one out there.