Porgy and Bess (Cleveland Orchestra & Chorus feat. conductor: Lorin Maazel)

~ Release by George Gershwin (see all versions of this release, 5 available)

Annotation

1976: Decca Records: The first complete recording of the opera based on Gershwin's original score, restoring the material cut by Gershwin during rehearsals for the New York premiere in 1935, was made by the Cleveland Orchestra under Lorin Maazel in 1976 for Decca Records in the UK and London Records in the U.S., in time for the U.S. Bicentennial. It starred Willard White singing his first Porgy, and Leona Mitchell as Bess. The recording was praised by critics for its performance quality and racial significance, but at the same time was highly criticized by some for not bringing out the "jazzier" qualities of the score.
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porgy_and_Bess#Complete_recordings

Porgy and Bess (Decca/London 1976), a complete studio production with Leona Mitchell and the Cleveland Orchestra conducted by Lorin Maazel.
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porgy_and_Bess_discography

Year: 1976 - 19th Annual GRAMMY Awards
Grammy Award nominee:
Category: Album of the Year - Classical
and
Grammy Award winner:
Winner: Lorin Maazel, artist; Michael Woolcock, producer
Genre: Classical
Category: Best Opera Recording
Title: Gershwin: Porgy and Bess
Performing Artist: Lorin Maazel, conductor

source: https://www2.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/Winners/Default.aspx

Willard White - Porgy (baritone)
Leona Mitchell - Bess (soprano)
McHenry Boatwright - Crown (baritone)
Florence Quivar - Serena (soprano)
Barbara Hendricks - Clara (soprano)
Barbara Conrad - Maria (mezzo-soprano)
Arthur Thompson - Jake (baritone)
François Clemmons - Sporting Life (tenor)
James Vincent Pickens - Mingo (tenor)
Samuel Hagan - Robbins (tenor)
William Brown - Peter (tenor)
Christopher Deane - Frazier (baritone)
Alpha Floyd - Annie (mezzo-soprano)
Isola Jones - Lily (mezzo-soprano)
Barbara Conrad - Strawberry Woman
Christopher Deane - Jim (baritone)
James Vincent Pickens - Undertaker (tenor)
William Brown - Nelson (tenor)
Samuel Hagan - Crab Man (tenor)
John Buck - Mr. Archdale
Robert Snook - Detective
Ralph Neally - Policeman
Allan Leatherman - Coroner
Donald Zucca - Scipio
Joela Jones - Jasbo Brown (piano)

more: http://castalbums.org/recordings/Porgy-and-Bess-1976-Studio-Cast/4947
http://www.soundfountain.com/gershwin/porgybess.html (cast -> characters, down left column) - very good overall Porgy and Bess reference
http://www.hbdirect.com/album/1004754-gershwin-porgy-and-bess-maazel-white-boatwright-et-al.html (cast, 'voice' indicates non-singing roles)

Annotation last modified on 2011-03-12 16:35 UTC.

Tracklist

1▶CD
2▶CD
3▼CD
#TitleRatingLength
1Porgy and Bess: Act II, Scene IV. "Oh, Doctor Jesus"
orchestra:
The Cleveland Orchestra
conductor:
Lorin Maazel (conductor)
recorded at:
TempleLive Cleveland Masonic in Cleveland, Ohio, United States (in 1975-08)
recording of:
Porgy and Bess: Act II, Scene IV. “Oh, Doctor Jesus”
lyricist:
Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward
composer:
George Gershwin (composer)
part of:
Porgy and Bess: Act II, Scene IV
2:23
2Porgy and Bess: Act II, Scene IV. "Oh, de Lawd shake de heavens" - "One of dese mornings you goin' to rise up singin'"
orchestra:
The Cleveland Orchestra
conductor:
Lorin Maazel (conductor)
recorded at:
TempleLive Cleveland Masonic in Cleveland, Ohio, United States (in 1975-08)
recording of:
Porgy and Bess: Act II, Scene IV. “Oh, de Lawd shake de heavens” – “One of dese mornings you goin’ to rise up singin’”
lyricist:
Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward
composer:
George Gershwin (composer)
part of:
Porgy and Bess: Act II, Scene IV
4:03
3Porgy and Bess: Act II, Scene IV. "Oh, dere's somebody knockin' at de do'" - "You is a nice parcel of Christians..."
orchestra:
The Cleveland Orchestra
conductor:
Lorin Maazel (conductor)
recorded at:
TempleLive Cleveland Masonic in Cleveland, Ohio, United States (in 1975-08)
recording of:
Porgy and Bess: Act II, Scene IV. “Oh, dere’s somebody knockin’ at de do’” – “You is a nice parcel of Christians…”
lyricist:
Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward
composer:
George Gershwin (composer)
part of:
Porgy and Bess: Act II, Scene IV
5:11
4Porgy and Bess: Act II, Scene IV. "A red-headed woman" - "Jake's boat in de river" - "Oh, Doctor Jesus"
orchestra:
The Cleveland Orchestra
conductor:
Lorin Maazel (conductor)
recorded at:
TempleLive Cleveland Masonic in Cleveland, Ohio, United States (in 1975-08)
recording of:
Porgy and Bess: Act II, Scene IV. “A red-headed woman” – “Jake’s boat in de river” – “Oh, Doctor Jesus”
lyricist:
Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward
composer:
George Gershwin (composer)
part of:
Porgy and Bess: Act II, Scene IV
5:41
5Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene I. "Clara, Clara, don't you be downhearted" - "Crown, Crown, don't you..." - "Summertime"
orchestra:
The Cleveland Orchestra
conductor:
Lorin Maazel (conductor)
recorded at:
TempleLive Cleveland Masonic in Cleveland, Ohio, United States (in 1975-08)
recording of:
Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene I. “Clara, Clara, don’t you be downhearted” – “Crown, Crown, don’t you…”
lyricist:
Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward
composer:
George Gershwin (composer)
part of:
Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene I
recording of:
Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene I. “Summertime” (Bess)
lyricist:
Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward
composer:
George Gershwin (composer)
part of:
Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene I
6:33
6Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene I. Interlude (Death of Crown)
orchestra:
The Cleveland Orchestra
conductor:
Lorin Maazel (conductor)
recorded at:
TempleLive Cleveland Masonic in Cleveland, Ohio, United States (in 1975-08)
recording of:
Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene I. Interlude (Death of Crown)
lyricist:
Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward
composer:
George Gershwin (composer)
part of:
Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene I
2:28
7Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene II. Introduction - "Wait for us at the corner, Al" - "What is your name?"
orchestra:
The Cleveland Orchestra
conductor:
Lorin Maazel (conductor)
recorded at:
TempleLive Cleveland Masonic in Cleveland, Ohio, United States (in 1975-08)
recording of:
Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene II. Introduction – “Wait for us at the corner, Al” – “What is your name?”
lyricist:
Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward
composer:
George Gershwin (composer)
part of:
Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene II
6:23
8Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene II. "You've got to go, Porgy" - "Oh, Gawd! They goin' make him look"
orchestra:
The Cleveland Orchestra
conductor:
Lorin Maazel (conductor)
recorded at:
TempleLive Cleveland Masonic in Cleveland, Ohio, United States (in 1975-08)
recording of:
Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene II. “You’ve got to go, Porgy” – “Oh, Gawd! They goin’ make him look”
lyricist:
Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward
composer:
George Gershwin (composer)
part of:
Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene II
3:23
9Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene II. "There's a boat dat's leavin'"
orchestra:
The Cleveland Orchestra
conductor:
Lorin Maazel (conductor)
recorded at:
TempleLive Cleveland Masonic in Cleveland, Ohio, United States (in 1975-08)
recording of:
Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene II. “There’s a Boat Dat’s Leavin’ Soon for New York”
lyricist:
Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward
composer:
George Gershwin (composer)
part of:
Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene II
3:59
10Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene III. Introduction
orchestra:
The Cleveland Orchestra
conductor:
Lorin Maazel (conductor)
recorded at:
TempleLive Cleveland Masonic in Cleveland, Ohio, United States (in 1975-08)
recording of:
Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene III. Introduction
lyricist:
Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward
composer:
George Gershwin (composer)
part of:
Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene III
3:30
11Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene III. "Good mornin', sistuh!" - "Thank Gawd I's home again!"
orchestra:
The Cleveland Orchestra
conductor:
Lorin Maazel (conductor)
recorded at:
TempleLive Cleveland Masonic in Cleveland, Ohio, United States (in 1975-08)
recording of:
Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene III. “Good mornin’, sistuh!” – “Thank Gawd I’s home again!”
lyricist:
Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward
composer:
George Gershwin (composer)
part of:
Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene III
2:49
12Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene III. "Dem white folks sure ain't put nuthin'"
orchestra:
The Cleveland Orchestra
conductor:
Lorin Maazel (conductor)
recorded at:
TempleLive Cleveland Masonic in Cleveland, Ohio, United States (in 1975-08)
recording of:
Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene III. “Dem white folks sure ain’t put nuthin’”
lyricist:
Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward
composer:
George Gershwin (composer)
part of:
Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene III
5:38
13Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene III. "Oh Bess, oh where's my Bess"
orchestra:
The Cleveland Orchestra
conductor:
Lorin Maazel (conductor)
recorded at:
TempleLive Cleveland Masonic in Cleveland, Ohio, United States (in 1975-08)
recording of:
Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene III. “Oh Bess, oh where’s my Bess”
lyricist:
Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward
composer:
George Gershwin (composer) (from 1934 until 1935)
part of:
Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene III
2:30
14Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene III. "Bess is gone"
orchestra:
The Cleveland Orchestra
conductor:
Lorin Maazel (conductor)
recorded at:
TempleLive Cleveland Masonic in Cleveland, Ohio, United States (in 1975-08)
recording of:
Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene III. “Bess is gone”
lyricist:
Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward
composer:
George Gershwin (composer)
part of:
Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene III
1:43
15Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene III. "Oh Lawd, I'm on my way"
orchestra:
The Cleveland Orchestra
conductor:
Lorin Maazel (conductor)
recorded at:
TempleLive Cleveland Masonic in Cleveland, Ohio, United States (in 1975-08)
recording of:
Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene III. “Oh Lawd, I’m on My Way”
lyricist:
Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward
composer:
George Gershwin (composer) (from 1934 until 1935)
part of:
Porgy and Bess: Act III, Scene III
1:36

Credits

Release

librettist:DuBose Heyward