Gershwin / Fazil Say, New York PO [Import]

George Gershwin (Performer, Composer, Conductor), Stanley Drucker (Performer), Kurt Masur (Conductor, Orchestra), James Saporito (Performer), New York Philharmonic (Orchestra), Fazil Say (Performer), Fazil Say (Artist), Kurt Masur (Artist)

Product Details

• Performer: George Gershwin, Stanley Drucker, James Saporito, Fazil Say
• Orchestra: Kurt Masur, New York Philharmonic
• Conductor: George Gershwin, Kurt Masur
• Composer: George Gershwin
• Audio CD (April 25, 2000)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Warner Music France
• ASIN: B00003ZACB
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #75,090 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  #92 in	Music > Opera & Vocal > Languages > English

Track Listings

1. Porgy and Bess, opera: I Got Plenty O'Nuttin'

2. Porgy and Bess, opera: Summertime (1)

3. Porgy and Bess, opera: Summertime (2)

4. Porgy and Bess, opera: It Ain't Necessarily So

5. Rhapsody in Blue, for piano & orchestra (orchestrated by F. Grofé)

6. Rialto Ripples, rag for piano

7. Impromptu in Two Keys, for piano

8. Merry Andrew, dance for piano

9. Three-Quarter Blues, for piano ('Irish Waltz', Melody No. 32)

10. Promenade, for piano or orchestra (arrangement of 'Walking the Dog' from Shall we Dance, film)

11. Variations on 'I Got Rhythm,' for piano & orchestra (or 2 Pianos)

12. Sleepless Night, prelude for piano (Melody No. 17, reconstructed by Alicia Zizzo)

13. Novelette in Fourths, rag for piano

14. Rubato, prelude for piano (Novelette Prelude)

15. Preludes (3) for piano: Prelude No. 1

16. Preludes (3) for piano: Prelude No. 2

17. Preludes (3) for piano: Prelude No. 3

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Nobody can accuse Fazil Say of having a bad time while recording this disc of Gershwin classics. He brings a jazzy improvisation and plenty of spunk to these well-worn tunes, creating one of the most enthralling Gershwin piano discs around. Some pianists make Gershwin sound grandiose (Helen Grimaud, for instance), but Say makes this music fun. His alternating takes on "Summertime"--one slow and pensive, the other dizzying and swinging--are unforgettable, while his "It Ain't Necessarily So" is spiky and mischievous. A small rhythm and horn section keeps up with the pianist on a few of the shorter works, while Kurt Masur and the New York Philharmonic get in on the action for Rhapsody in Blue and the lesser-heard "'I Got Rhythm' Variations." Featuring some of Gershwin's most technical, modernist writing, "Variations" is a real discovery, as are Say's inventive interpretations of the shorter solo miniatures. Throughout, he's clearly in his element, having a blast and showing off. Gershwin seldom sounds this good. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is one of my absolute favorite Gershwin CD's, December 26, 2001

By	Joanna Daneman (Middletown, DE USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

Amazon Verified Purchase

There's some rather rare pieces on this CD--including the wonderful cakewalk Novelette in Fourths. Gershwin wrote some wonderful jazz-style preludes for piano, but usually only three are recorded. There are a number of other short piano works that are delightful and practically impossible to find on CD. Fortunately, they are here, along with some favorites from Porgy and Bess and other piano arrangements of Gershwin songs such as the virtuoso "I Got Rhythm" variations.

What's really great is that Fazil Say plays these with humor and lightness. No heavy, pseudo-scholarly seriousness here. He makes the most of his pianistic skill and yet retains the spirit of Gershwin's playfulness and fun. This is definitely a must-have if you love Gershwin.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great and subtle pianist, December 28, 2000

By	Chris Honingh (Krommenie, NH Netherlands) - See all my reviews

Although everything on this disc is also heavily recorded by others, Fazil Say has indeed found new arrangements to the songs and pieces, which made George Gershwin famous. Maybe The Rapsody in Blue is the one that has been recorded most, by any standard. But nevertheless the comparison between versions is always interesting, mostly due to the work itself. Fazil Say has a more jazzy approach than let's say, Michael Tilson Thomas or even Alicia Zizzo (the latter is better than that of Tilson Thomas). With Fazil Say you hear that Gershwins music is firmly rooted in ragtime and music hall, the piano being the one they use in a bar, in most other interpretations there is the tendency to use a grand piano, typically concertlike. Although Gershwin craved to be a concertcomposer (he even went to Paris to ask Ravel to teach him), his strength laid in jazzy, vaudeville-like sharpness, and above all, syncopated music. It was music to dance to. His songs mostly transcend the lightness of musical (music hall) songs, which he wrote together with his brother Ira. In addition, especially Porgy and Bess, which is an opera true to the word, is simultaneously impressing and touching, though halfheartedly unemancipating in its use of so called Negro language. However, Fazil Say has nothing to do with that, and his interpretations are wonderful, in the songs his piano really sings, you do not miss the voice of the singer. In addition, I will not forget to mention the New York Philharmonic under Kurt Masur, who gives an outstanding performance, surprising and full of the necessary rhythm and drive.

The sound quality is excellent, especially brass and percussion. The quintet that accompanies Say in the first four numbers is up to its job and more. The sound of the piano is very well captured.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I heard this CD highlighted on the radio today, June 22, 2000

By	Michael Caruso (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

My local public radio station was playing cuts from this CD all morning as a way to get people interested in pledging money. I already made my donation, so I thought I would give Amazon.com some attention for a change. I was very impressed with what I heard. The arrangements are a mixture of Fazil being backed by a small quintet and the New York Philharmonic. He can play piano! Enjoy!