2. music
  3. 189075-74445

Audiophile Gershwin Recordings

The budget classical label Vox catalog was purchased by Naxos a few years ago.  They recently released a 24/192 mix of the Gershwin recordings made in the mid seventies by the St. Louis Symphony conducted by Leonard Slatkin with Pianist Jeffrey Simon on 2 well filled CDs.  I had enjoyed the recordings but had to suffer the execrable Vox vinyl.  These are stunning, with great dynamic range and utterly natural analog recording.  The Catfish Row Suite from Porgy and Bess is Gershwin own arrangement, not the more familiar one that was done after his death.  Who knew that Vox had recorded such gems?

mahler123
gregm
3,405 posts
 

Thanks bringing it to our attention

mahler123 OP
3,362 posts
 

I just listened again to Rhapsody In Blue.  Really excellent.  My long time favorite has been Wild/Fiedler.  Their clarinet schmear that launches the piece is more exuberant than the Slatkin, but I prefer the ebb and flow of the Slatkin a bit more.  Good to have them both 

 

tablejockey
3,916 posts
 

If you care to indulge in LP, 

1981 Telarc digital release of Rhapsody in Blue/American in Paris.

Erich Kunzel with Cincinnati SO. I have the German press-very good.

Tried to link the Discogs, but verboten.

 

 

More to discover