Customer Reviews

Porgy & Bess: High Performance

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I first heard this recording as a high school student in the '60's, and it changed my life. I later became a New York freelance musician, and worked with Skitch Henderson on occasion... and every time I saw him I was reminded of this performance.

To respond to some of the other reviews... John Bubbles is phenomonal as Sporting Life - he was, after all, the composer's personal choice for the role - and those who quibble that his acting is better than his voice are missing the point: "Porgy and Bess" is, first and foremost, meant to be acted! (And, truth be known, I like his voice...)

Which brings us to the legendary Leontyne Price/William Warfield combination. After listening to this again (and the restored sound is wondrous), I felt that a definition of Hell would be to have to follow Leontyne Price in this - or ANY - role. She owned the role of Bess by the time this recording was made, and her acting and vocal skills are matchless (It's possible that the opening "..Ooooh.." in "What You Want Wit' Bess?" is one of the sexiest and most dramatic ten seconds in the history of recording). William Warfield is not far behind in his portrayal of Porgy - it is beatifully sung, if not as convincingly acted as some of the other characters.

But that said, what makes this recording absolutely matchless - and probably forever - is the playing of the nameless 1960's New York studio musicians who comprise the "RCA Victor Symphony Symphony Orchestra." What they bring to the "pit" is what is missing from virtually every other "Porgy" recording: the innate swagger, confidence, and panache that come from a career of working with one foot firmly in the "symphonic" world and the other firmly in the "commercial" (in New York's, case, Broadway/Jazz) world. It is the equivalent of listening to Johann Strauss performed by the Vienna Philharmonic: unique, absolutely right, and unduplicatable. Unfortunately, it's not just a matter of place, but also time... the environment that nurtured these musicians was soon to disappear, and it's been "Gone, Gone, Gone..." for many years now.

But it lives on in this recording. I played it for a friend of mine not long ago who was unprepared for the experience - I looked at her fifteen minutes into it and there were tears rolling down her cheeks. Mine, too.

This is my all-time favorite recording of Porgy & Bess. Leontyne Price quite rightly won a Grammy for her performance on this album. John Bubbles is the best Sporting Life I've ever heard; bringing to the role a mischievous energy (and a wonderful sand-papery voice) that is utterly engaging. William Warfield (the father, I believe, of comedian Marsha Warfield) is splendid as Porgy. Although this album isn't the full opera, it offers the best-known numbers; the ones we all know and love. I originally found a cassette of this recording in England, wore the tape right out and just, happily, bought the CD.
Most highly recommended.

The beautifull voice and perfect control of Leontine Price and other singers in this cast blend into a perfect performance with the subtly directed music. This recording of main songs from the greatest American opera gives a sheer pleasure to the listener. After a recent hearing of the live opera performance given in 2002 in New York, with the orchestra playing too loud and the voices trying to be louder and struggling with control, coming home and putting on this CD was a wonderfull relief and a reward.

This is the first "Porgy and Bess recording I ever heard, and though it's not complete, it is the BEST. Bess is sung definitively by Leontyne Price, and the Porgy is every bit equal to her performance. Gershwin's music for this opera is amazing. It is jazz and black culture put into operatic form, and you can't get more soulful than that. "Summertime" (my favorite song ever) of course was wonderful, and "My Man's Gone Now" is the saddest thing I have ever heard - you can listen to it over and over. "Bess, you is my Woman Now" makes me cry too, it's so sweet. The acting is convincing as could be wished. As for Sportin' Life, he is played by the creator of the role who was NOT an opera singer but rather a vaudeville star, and chosen by Gershwin himself. At first he seems rather out of place beside the rest of the cast (Leontyne Price, for goodness' sake!) but he grows on you. I once heard a bass rendition of "It Ain't Neccisarily So" that was sung very low and deep, and very straight - and although I'm aware that Sportin' Life is a tenor role, it was a very effective rendition. However, as an indiviudual, this Sportin' Life was not bad at all, and his "There's a Boat dat's Leavin' Soon for New York" was VERY good and almost seductive, I thought.

Really, you couldn't get much better for $12.00!

This is my absolute favorite recording of "Porgy and Bess." The orchestrations are just exquisite and I love the tempo. Leontyne Price is my favorite Bess. She gives the right attitude and vocal technique that Bess needs. Another reason why I love this recording is because there are great performances all around. "Summertime" is just marvelous; not soft and operatic with no feeling like many opera singers make it, but real and with real feeling. I have yet to find a better rendition of "My man's gone now." Again, REAL attitude and I love the personality that the singer brings to it; and the last notes are not mushy, like many singers do with it. The only criticism is with Sportin' Life, he's not a real opera singer. It seemed like they just cast him because of his speaking voice and acting skill. William Warfield, by the way, gives Porgy that delicious huskiness and cut that only a good baritone can give to it.

Just a marvelous recording, definitely a keeper!!

This recording of scenes from Gershwin's opera is a stunning achievement and a gem for anyone who loves great music and great singing. Ms. Price was a world-renowned Bess and created a sensation when she toured in the opera's celebrated revival during the 1950's. People unfamiliar with the entire score may be surpised to discover that two famous arias, "Summertime" and
"My Man's Gone Now", aren't sung by Bess. It's thrilling to hear Ms. Price perform these, which were signature pieces
throughout her career. As Porgy, Mr. Warfield toured with Leontyne Price, and the power and poignancy of his characterization are comparable to hers. He is extraordinary in his solos, and his love duet with Ms. Price wil give the listener chills. The chorus and orchestra are superb. Skitch Henderson, former maestro of The Tonight Show, might seem an unusual choice for conductor, but his leadership is skilled, idiomatic, and electrifying. (He was a fine musician and composer who often guest-conducted for symphony orchestras.)
This is a wonderful example of recorded musical drama and will appeal to those who don't consider themselves opera fans as well as to those who do. Highly recommended and a Grammy Award winner.

OK, so Leontyne Price sings a song on this recording ("My Man is Gone Now")that is not sung by her character (Bess), but what an incredible version of that song! I've never heard any singer match it. This album introduced me to P & B 20 years ago, and I love the CD. I had the pleasure of interviewing William Warfield in 1981; much to my regret I did not yet know this recording.

By the way: I also love the old 1951 recording of the opera (re-released as a CD by Sony in 1998). It is my other favorite, and has over 2 hours of the music. The audio is surprisingly good.

We were lucky that RCA was willing to record these highlights of Porgy and Bess and there were not contractual problems that prevented a Leontyne Price/William Warfield record of Handel's Messiah. Price and Warfield were performing Messiah with Ormandy/Philadephia Orchestra and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. When Columbia Records originally planned to record, Ormandy, the choir and Warfield were under contract to them Price was under contract to RCA. In those days there was very little loaning out so Columbia substituted Eileen Farrell, their top soprano at the time for the record....ah what could have been. But in the meantime we have this remastered recording which was released at the same time as RCA debuted Dynagrove in the vinyl days. Listen to, "My Man's Gone Now." It will bring you to tears.

Outstanding cast and performances. Digitally remastered in the new High Performance mode. Sound is spectacular.

Absolutely terrific.

One of my favorite CDs.

Now, if they could only dig up an entire recording or find a video of the production...