Rhapsody in Blue

George Gershwin (Composer), Ernest Martinez Izquierdo (Conductor), Barcelona Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Michel Camilo (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Michel Camilo
• Orchestra: Barcelona Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Ernest Martinez Izquierdo
• Composer: George Gershwin
• Audio CD (February 28, 2006)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Telarc
• ASIN: B000E4FHYQ
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #311,364 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Way Gershwin Meant it to be Played, April 1, 2006

By 

Jim Newsom (Norfolk, VA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Rhapsody in Blue (Audio CD)

My first thought was, "Who needs another version of Rhapsody in Blue?" A couple of listens to this CD provide the answer, giving all the explanation needed to justify Camilo's dive into Gershwin's symphonic repertoire. Though I've thought of the Dominican native as primarily a fiery Latin-derived player in the past, here we get an aural glimpse at the classical chops he developed studying for thirteen years at the National Conservatory on his native island. On this disc, his piano fronts the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra, not only on Rhapsody, but also on Gershwin's Concerto in F. He closes the set with a solo reading of Gershwin's beautifully melancholic Prelude No. 2. What propels this recording above the many other available takes on these pieces is Camilo's jazz sensibilities. We're used to hearing them played by a non-improvising classical pianist, but here we get the real thing-Gershwin's jazz-inspired work played by a real jazzman. It's a perfect musical marriage.

---Originally published in Port Folio Weekly - March 28, 2006
copyright © 2006 Port Folio Weekly. Used by Permission.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars You can do (much) better than this, June 18, 2008

By 

Classic Music Lover (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rhapsody in Blue (Audio CD)

How many recordings are there of the Rhapsody in Blue and Concerto in F, I wonder? It seems like dozens -- which makes the competition in this repertoire especially challenging. Michel Camilo comes from a jazz piano background, which supposedly makes his interpretations of these Gershwin classics more "authentic" than others in this repertoire. That may be, but accompanying the authenticity should be precise playing and correct notes -- which seem to be in short supply in certain parts. The mistakes are most noticeable toward the end of movements such as the 1st and 3rd in the Piano Concerto as well as the end of the Rhapsody, where Camilo's mental concentration seems to lag and his playing lurches out of control. It's actually painful to hear.

Also, for someone who is taking such a jazz-inspired approach to the interpretation, why opt for the "sanitized" Ferde Grofe orchestration in the Rhapsody when the original jazz orchestration is so much more idiomatic and spikey?

Even if there were only a few recordings to choose from in this repertoire, it would be hard to recommend these performances due to their technical flaws. But of course, we have a whole bevy of other choices; not only are there many very good recent recordings, you can also investigate numerous "historic" performers that will do you much better, such as Oscar Levant, Alec Templeton, Julius Katchen and Byron Janis. Even the raucous, hard-edged Earl Wild/Fiedler/Boston Pops reading of the Piano Concerto on RCA/BMG is a better bet than the earnest yet ultimately unsatisfying efforts of Michel Camilo & Co.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Telarcs Rhapsody in Blue (Hybrid SACD), December 8, 2010

By 

cocopahrecords - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rhapsody in Blue [Hybrid SACD] (Audio CD)

I have not bought a stinker yet from Telarc... One of the most beautiful piano sounds, and performance of this great piece from George Gershwin. It has been recorded many times from all the great labels and performers but this one has it all.