George Gershwin: Porgy and Bess

George Gershwin (Composer), Alexander Smallens (Conductor), RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester (Orchestra), Cabell "Cab" Calloway (Performer), Helen Colbert (Performer), Helen Dowdy (Performer), Helen Thigpen (Performer), Howard A. Roberts (Performer), John McCurry (Performer), Joseph James (Performer), Leontyne Price (Performer), Leslie Scott (Performer), Moses Lamar (Performer), Ray Yates (Performer), Walter Riemann (Performer), William Warfield (Performer), William Weasey (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Cabell "Cab" Calloway, Helen Colbert, Helen Dowdy, Helen Thigpen, Howard A. Roberts, et al.
• Orchestra: RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester
• Conductor: Alexander Smallens
• Composer: George Gershwin
• Audio CD (July 8, 2008)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Guild
• ASIN: B0017RRDRS
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #143,662 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A terrific performance with a legendary cast, February 21, 2009

By	D. H Patterson "danpatter" (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I own all the "complete" PORGY AND BESS recordings and a number of highlights issues as well. There are points in favor of all of them, and I like all of them for different reasons. I grew up on the old RCA highlights of PORGY with Leontyne Price and William Warfield. Here they are, caught a decade earlier in a decently-recorded live performance from 1952, and what a performance it is, broadcast in very good sound by a Berlin radio station and well-preserved. In some ways, its theatricality even eclipses that of the ultra-complete Houston Grand Opera version (which remains the best version overall). But anyone who loves this opera should definitely hear this vivid and thrilling performance as well.

Warfield is superb, completely absorbed in his part and moving beyond belief. Price, in some ways, is even better here than on the later studio recording (though, there, admittedly, it is wonderful to have her singing Clara's and Serena's solos as well. The voice is perhaps not as rich as it would become in the 1960s, but it's already a major voice, incredibly lovely and beautiful to hear. She too exhibits a deep involvement in the role and I defy anyone to resist "I loves you, Porgy" in this performance. Cab Calloway is Cab Calloway, and he's terrific, creating a vivid Sportin' Life and mostly observing the notes, though "There's a boat that's leaving soon" gets the full Calloway treatment. Irresistible. The Crown was in rough voice that evening but he never cheats, and he's convincing in his meanness and bravado.

The secondary characters are all splendid, and some of the most surprisingly wonderful moments come from them, too. The audience (otherwise unheard) breaks into applause for "Strawberry Woman" and you can hear why. A few moments are unquestionably the best in the PORGY canon - the little trio wherein the ladies persuade the police that "Serena been in bed three days and we been nursing her" is hilarious and lovely at the same time.

Of course, there are cuts, but Porgy gets his Buzzard Song, and none of the cuts are disfiguring; Maria's "rap" song ("I hates yo' struttin' style") is the biggest loss. This performance moves propulsively and it sweeps the listener along with it. The sound is good radio broadcast quality from 1952, and everything is clear, with almost no distortion to speak of. This is a wonderful performance. Yes, you should also own one of the later complete recordings for the sake of completeness, sound and whichever performances you're attracted to. I'd opt either for the Decca/London or the RCA Houston Grand Opera version. The latter is the more theatrical, the former slightly better sung. Some critics prefer the EMI/Rattle recording but, good as it is, I can't quite rake up their level of enthusiasm, though Willard White is excellent as Porgy. This recording, however, is a WINNER and well worth hearing. Don't miss it! This performance ROCKS!

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A LONG AWAITED HISTORICAL ISSUE!!!, November 19, 2008

By	R. Olsavicky "Bob's thoughts" (Butler, Pa. USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a wonderful historical document of a famous revival of the great George Gershwin's PORGY AND BESS. It is a very good sounding performance of a famous production that toured the world for three years in the early 1950's featuring a very young Leontyne Price and a fine William Warfield. The sound is very good Mono Radio Broadcast. Now, for purists this is not a note complete studio recording; but, a working live performance edition. This is how the work was performed at this time, in this famous tour. The original opera was about three hours plus long and we will never know what changes or final thoughts the composer may have had as this score went through various productions. It was considered a bit too long and death took another true genius composer way too soon. The original clocked in at a well over three hours. Shades of Wagner and THE RING! Gershwin should have been alive and well when this production hit the roads and had considerable input. It's to bad he died so young and never got to give us his final thoughts or work on this production with this cast.

Oh well, lets leave this and get to the performance at hand. It in many ways is excellent and very important. It introduces us to a very young and beautiful sounding Leontyne Price seven years before her famous Metropolitan Opera debut. A great voice and artist is heard in the very beginning of a phenomenal career. This role practically introduced her to the world and was an important triumph! The aria "Summertime" was always one of many encores in all her live recitals. I personally heard her sing this at least four times over her four decades career. It was always stunning with the most pure floated piano tones one will ever have the privilege to experience! Her highlights on RCA are also Spectacular! If you love or like this opera or are an unabashed fan of Leontyne Price, and I am, here is a rare chance to hear her in 1952 in a very important door opening role which she never recorded complete in the Studio. Don't pass this chance by. We have Guild Historical to thank for this special treat.

Now, not to slight the rest of the cast we also get Excellent performances from William Warfield and Cab Calloway. Again historic in the best sense of the word. The other female roles are everything from adequate to very good; some a bit shrill. We also get a lot of involvement this being a live performance. Finally, not an absolutely complete performance of this Masterpiece but, a very good sounding historic document of an important revival with some important career breakthroughs. Again, thank you GUILD HISTORICAL!

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great archival discovery, March 13, 2009

By	Richard C. Norton (New York, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is an amazing find! Recorded live in Germany, this 1954 international tour of PORGY AND BESS documents a legendary revival. Since no comparable recording exists from the Broadway 1953 revival, this is a thrill to hear!