jmc's classics
I volunteered at the Coffee Concert on April 7. They played Darius Milhaud's Creation of the World, Leonard Bernstein's Three Dances from Fancy Free and two pieces by George Gershwin. His Rhapsody in Blue, and his concerto(for piano) in F.
I have discussed Bernstein before. I am not familiar with Milhaud. he was a Frenchman of Jewish extraction he lived form 1892-1974. He like Gershwin and Bernstein were fascinated and influenced by American Jazz. The Creation of the world lasts about 15 minutes. When I had first heard of this piece I thought that it would have some kind of choral music associated with it but I was wrong. It is actually a bellet based on African themes! George Gershwin (1898-1937) Like Bernstein and Milhaud was of Jewish heritage. The above pieces are his most known along with his opera Porgy and Bess. This is the first American Opera to be performed at La Scala in Milan. La Scala is one of the most famous opera houses in the world. Porgy and Bess is one of the first if not first operas or musicals to have an all black cast. It is known for the song "summertime" which has been on the top 40 charts. All of the above pieces have Jazz influence in them. I have never seen the opera Porgy and Bess. in Person. The Rhapsody in Blue and the Concerto in F is one of the first CDs that I purchased in 1994. I don't know if it is still available. It is Seijo Ozawa and the San Francisco Symphony and Kurt Masur with the Gewandhausorchester of Leipzinbg. It also contained An American in paris.
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