George Gershwin's "Porgy & Bess"

Product Review

Title Tracks for George Gershwin's "Porgy & Bess"

• 1. Porgy And Bess: Act 1, Scene 1, Introduction And Jasbo Brown Blues
• 2. Porgy And Bess: Act 1, Scene 1, Summertime
• 3. Porgy And Bess: Act 1, Scene 1, 'Oh, Nobody Knows When De Lord Is Gonna Call'
• 4. Porgy And Bess: Act 1, Scene 1, A Woman Is A Sometime Thing
• 5. Porgy And Bess: Act 1, Scene 1, 'Here Come De Honey Man'; Porgy's Entrance
• 6. Porgy And Bess: Act 1, Scene 1, 'Here Comes Big Boy!' (Entrance Of Crown And Bess)
• 7. Porgy And Bess: Act 1, Scene 1, 'Oh, Little Stars, Little Stars'
• 8. Porgy And Bess: Act 1, Scene 1, 'Wake Up An' Hit It Out'
• 9. Porgy And Bess: Act 1, Scene 2, Gone, Gone, Gone
• 10. Porgy And Bess: Act 1, Scene 2, Overflow
• 11. Porgy And Bess: Act 1, Scene 2, 'Well, Well, Well, A Saucer-burying Setup'
• 12. Porgy And Bess: Act 1, Scene 2, My Man's Gone Now
• 13. Porgy And Bess: Act 1, Scene 2, 'How De Saucer Stan' Now, My Sister?'
• 14. Porgy And Bess: Act 1, Scene 2, Leavin' For The Promise' Lan'
• 15. Porgy And Bess: Act 2, Scene 1: It Takes A Long Pull To Get There
• 16. Porgy And Bess: Act 2, Scene 1: 'Mus' Be You Mens Forgot About De Picnic
• 17. Porgy And Bess: Act 2, Scene 1: I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'
• 18. Porgy And Bess: Act 2, Scene 1: 'Lissen There, What I Tells You'
• 19. Porgy And Bess: Act 2, Scene 1: I Hates Yo' Struttin Style
• 20. Porgy And Bess: Act 2, Scene 1: 'Mornin', Lawyer'
• 21. Porgy And Bess: Act 2, Scene 1: 'Dey's A Buckra Comin''
• 22. Porgy And Bess: Act 2, Scene 1: The Buzzard Song
• 23. Porgy And Bess: Act 2, Scene 1: ' 'Lo, Bess, Goin' To The Picnic?'
• 24. Porgy And Bess: Act 2, Scene 1: Bess, You Is My Woman
• 25. Porgy And Bess: Act 2, Scene 1: Oh, I Can't Sit Down
• 26. Porgy And Bess: Act 2, Scene 1: 'What's De Matter Wid You, Sister?'
• 27. Porgy And Bess: Act 2, Scene 2: I Ain't Got No Shame
• 28. Porgy And Bess: Act 2, Scene 2: It Ain't Necessarily So
• 29. Porgy And Bess: Act 2, Scene 2: Dance; 'Shame On All You Sinners'
• 30. Porgy And Bess: Act 2, Scene 2: 'Crown!'
• 31. Porgy And Bess: Act 2, Scene 2: What You Want Wid Bess?
• 32. Porgy And Bess: Act 2, Scene 2: 'Lemme Go, Hear Dat Boat'
• 33. Porgy And Bess: Act 2, Scene3: 'Honey, Dat's All De Breakfast I Got Time For'
• 34. Porgy And Bess: Act 2, Scene3: 'Take Yo' Hands Off Me, I Say'
• 35. Porgy And Bess: Act 2, Scene3: 'Oh, Doctor Jesus'
• 36. Porgy And Bess: Act 2, Scene3: Strawberry Woman; Honey Man; Crab Man
• 37. Porgy And Bess: Act 2, Scene3: 'Now De Time, Oh, Gawd'
• 38. Porgy And Bess: Act 2, Scene3: I Loves You, Porgy
• 39. Porgy And Bess: Act 2, Scene3: 'Why You Been Out On That Wharf So Long, Clara?'
• 40. Porgy And Bess: Act 2, Scene 4: 'Oh, Doctor Jesus' (Hurricane Scene); Summertime (Reprise)
• 41. Porgy And Bess: Act 2, Scene 4: 'What Make You So Still, Bess'; 'Oh, Dere's Somebody Knockin''
• 42. Porgy And Bess: Act 2, Scene 4: 'You Is A Nice Parcel Of Christians'
• 43. Porgy And Bess: Act 2, Scene 4: A Red-Headed Woman
• 44. Porgy And Bess: Act 2, Scene 4: 'Jake's Boat In De River'
• 45. Porgy And Bess: Act 3, Scene 1: Clara, Clara
• 46. Porgy And Bess: Act 3, Scene 1: 'You Low-Lived Skunk'
• 47. Porgy And Bess: Act 3, Scene 1: Summertime (Reprise); Death Of Crown
• 48. Porgy And Bess: Act 3, Scene 2: 'Wait For Us At The Corner, Al'
• 49. Porgy And Bess: Act 3, Scene 2: 'What Is Your Name?'
• 50. Porgy And Bess: Act 3, Scene 2: 'Oh, Gawd! They Goin' Make Him Look On Crown's Face!'
• 51. Porgy And Bess: Act 3, Scene 2: There's A Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon For New York
• 52. Porgy And Bess: Act 3, Scene 3: Catfish Row Interlude
• 53. Porgy And Bess: Act 3, Scene 3: 'Good Mornin', Sistuh! Good Mornin', Brudder!'
• 54. Porgy And Bess: Act 3, Scene 3: 'It's Porgy Comin' Home'
• 55. Porgy And Bess: Act 3, Scene 3: Oh, Bess, Oh, Where's My Bess
• 56. Porgy And Bess: Act 3, Scene 3: 'Bess Is Gone'
• 57. Porgy And Bess: Act 3, Scene 3: Oh, Lawd, I'm On My Way

Customer Reviews

 (23 customer reviews)

80 of 82 people found the following review helpful

Beautiful, Exciting Recording of a Masterpiece, September 15, 1999

Jaime J. Weinman (Canada) - See all my reviews
  

This review is from: George Gershwin's "Porgy & Bess" (Audio CD)

Forget the overrated, overblown Simon Rattle version on EMI. This recording, based on the famous Houston Grand Opera production, is the one to have. It has all the precision and musicality of the best opera recordings, yet with the theatrical excitement, the sense of involvement, that you get in the best Broadway cast albums--in fact, this recording was made (in only three days) while the cast was busy performing this production on Broadway.Where to start in cataloguing the virtues of this set? Well, start with the conducting of John DeMain. His pacing of the work is excellent, balancing the operatic and "popular" elements just right, and never overdoing things (unlike Rattle, who always overdoes things). The orchestra, while clearly smaller than Rattle's London Philharmonic, plays well. Donnie Ray Albert is a fine Porgy, sometimes a bit strained at the top but with generally excellent singing and characterization. Clamma Dale's Bess won her awards and acclaim;...Read more

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful

The one by which all PORGYS are measured, February 19, 2005

Mark Andrew Lawrence "Theatre Reviewer" (Toronto) - See all my reviews
  

This review is from: George Gershwin's "Porgy & Bess" (Audio CD)

Composer Stephen Sondheim has frequently cited PORGY AND BESS as his favourite calling it "a gift from above." And indeed it is.

And you could not ask for a better recording than this lavish set from the 1976 Houston Grand Opera, lovingly translated to discs by Thomas Sheppard with the same care and dedication he brings to his original Broadway cast recordings.

This album puts you centre stage with extensive use of sound effects and creative use of the stereo spread. The cast is perfection, honed by having performed the show live several times before going into the RCA studios. It's packed with a full libretto and synopsis.

The other "complete" recordings don't measure up. London's is correct but uninspired. EMI's set is well sung but lacks theatricality. All of the elements are in perfect balance on this set.

The old Columbia 1951 album was complete in its day but musicologists have since restored much of the material cut before the...Read more

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful

The best, November 16, 1999

Helpful Reviewer (Virginia USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: George Gershwin's "Porgy & Bess" (Audio CD)

The previous writer's review is exceptionally insightful and describes perfectly and comprehensively the many merits of this production and this recording. My only previous exposure to a full-length "Porgy" was the Rattle version, which in comparison to this production is found seriously lacking. Owing primarily to its pacing, the quality of the voices, and its effective and sincere characterizations, this production is without a doubt the best uncut version available. What is perhaps most impressive is the degree to which the singers and the orchestra work together to form a true ensemble and the resulting clarity of interpretation. This is not a program of "stars," and the usual "hits" are well-integrated into the fabric of the entire production. Lovely. Certain to become one of the treasures of your collection.