Gershwin: Porgy And Bess

Willard White (Performer), George Gershwin (Composer), Cleveland Orchestra (Orchestra), Alan Leatherman (Performer), Alpha Floyd (Performer), Arthur Thompson (Performer), Barbara Conrad (Performer), Christopher Deane (Performer), Donald Zucca (Performer), Florence Quivar (Performer), Frarncois Clemmons (Performer), Isola Jones (Performer), James Vincent Pickens (Performer), Joela Jones (Performer), John Buck (Performer), Leona Mitchell (Performer), McHenry Boatwright (Performer), Ralph Nealley (Performer), Robert Snook (Performer), Samuel Hagan (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Willard White, Alan Leatherman, Alpha Floyd, Arthur Thompson, Barbara Conrad, et al.
• Orchestra: Cleveland Orchestra
• Composer: George Gershwin
• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• SPARS Code: A-D
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Polygram Records
• ASIN: B0000041QM
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #145,203 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Porgy and Bess, opera: Act 1. Scene 1.: Introduction/ Jasbo Brown Blues

2. Porgy and Bess, opera: Act 1. Scene 1.: "Summertime"/ "Oh, nobody knows when the Lawd is goin' to call"/ "I been sweatin'

3. Porgy and Bess, opera: Act 1. Scene 1.: "A woman is a sometime thing"/ ("Lissen to yo' daddy warn you")

4. Porgy and Bess, opera: Act 1. Scene 1.: "Here come de honey man"/ "Here's the ol' crap shark!"

5. Porgy and Bess, opera: Act 1. Scene 1.: "They pass by singin"/ "Here comes Big Boy!"/ "Don't you ever let a woman grieve y

6. Porgy and Bess, opera: Act 1. Scene 1.: "Oh, Little Stars"/ "Touch that money an' meet yo' Gawd!"

See all 12 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Porgy and Bess, opera: Act 2. Scene 1.: "It takes a long pull to get there"/ ("Oh, I'm agoin' out to the Blackfish banks")

2. Porgy and Bess, opera: Act 2. Scene 1.: "Oh, I got plenty o' nuttin' "/ "Lissen there, what I tells you"

3. Porgy and Bess, opera: Act 2. Scene 1.: "I hates yo' struttin' style"/ "Mornin', Lawyer, lookin' for somebody?"/ "Dey's a

4. Porgy and Bess, opera: Act 2. Scene 1.: "Look out, dat's a buzzard!"/ "Lo, Bess, goin' to picnic?"

5. Porgy and Bess, opera: Act 2. Scene 1.: "Bess, you is my woman now"

6. Porgy and Bess, opera: Act 2. Scene 1.: "Oh, I can't sit down"

See all 15 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. Porgy and Bess, opera: Act 2. Scene 4.: "Oh, Doctor Jesus"

2. Porgy and Bess, opera: Act 2. Scene 4.: "Oh, de Lawd shake de Heavens"/ "One of dese mornings you goin' to rise up singin'

3. Porgy and Bess, opera: Act 2. Scene 4.: "Oh, dere's somebody knockin' at de do' "/ "You is a nice parcel of Christmas"/ "I

4. Porgy and Bess, opera: Act 2. Scene 4.: "A red-headed woman"/ "Jake's boat in de river"/ "Oh, Doctor Jesus"

5. Porgy and Bess, opera: Act 3. Scene 1.: "Clara, Clara, don't you be downhearted"/ "Crown, Crown, don't you be downhearted/

6. Porgy and Bess, opera: Act 3. Scene 1.: Interlude (Death of Crown)

See all 14 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 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

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.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

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

By A Customer

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 2 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

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.