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Bernstein, Gershwin & Copland / Judd, NOI Philharmonic
Naxos

Bernstein, Gershwin & Copland / Judd, NOI Philharmonic

$19.99 Only 2 left

Details

Composer
BERNSTEIN COPLAND GERSHWIN
Artist
Wolf Trap Opera, Judd
Format
CD
Label
Naxos
Released
Apr 10, 2020
Catalog #
8559859
UPC
636943985922

About

An American in Paris is one of Gershwin’s most vivacious works, an orchestral ballet saturated in homesickness and the blues. This recording, however, uses the new 2019 critical edition and offers Gershwin’s original orchestration, unheard for 75 years- leaner, more angular and transparent, it also employs the correct use of the iconic taxi horns, for a new sonic experience. The breezy vitality of Copland’s An Outdoor Overture is balanced by Bernstein’s Songfest- written to celebrate the Bicentennial Year in America, setting the verses of 13 of the country’s poets.

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REVIEW:

Songfest is in many ways a portrait of its composer in that the music is multi-faceted and ranges from the simple and lyrical to the flamboyant. Not every movement works as well for me on a level of subjective taste—I’m not a big fan of the tenor solo, ‘Zizi’s Lament’, for instance—but overall, the work is entertaining and full of life. The present performance is excellent with six fine singers expertly partnered by James Judd and his outstanding orchestra.

This new recording of An American in Paris has a particular allure in that it uses the new (2019) critical edition. The edition has been prepared by Mark Clague, the Editor-in-Chief of the George and Ira Gershwin Critical Edition. In an absorbing note in the booklet, he explains that there are two significant differences between this score and the version to which we’re accustomed. One concerns the use of saxophones. Gershwin specified no less than eight different saxes in his original orchestration, including a trio of soprano saxes. Unfortunately, well-meaning editorial work in the 1940s reduced the eight saxes to three—and even these were designated as optional. Here, the full octet is restored and, boy, do they make a difference at times! (Try the episode beginning at 7:23, where they’re smooching in the background. Even better, listen to them in the exuberant passage from 11:39.) The other changes concern the famous taxi horns. Gershwin was, apparently, very specific as to the pitches of the horns but an editorial misunderstanding after the composer’s death meant that the horns were notated at incorrect pitches. Now we can hear what Gershwin intended.

Copland’s An Outdoor Overture acts as a filler; it receives an alert and entertaining performance.

I’ve encountered the work of the National Orchestral Institute Philharmonic on several previous Naxos CDs of American music. I’ve never been disappointed by their performances and this latest programme evidences the same professionalism, polish and commitment that I’ve heard before. James Judd guides them expertly through the music.

I enjoyed this disc very much. It’s especially recommendable for Songfest, not least because to the best of my knowledge it’s the only single-disc version currently available and it’s a work that is very well worth getting to know, especially in this fine performance.

– MusicWeb International

Tracklist 14 tracks

  1. 1 An American in Paris (ed. M. Clague) 17:08
    Track
    1
    Title
    An American in Paris (ed. M. Clague)
    Duration
    17:08
    Composer
    George Gershwin
    Ensemble
    National Orchestral Institute Philharmonic
    Conductor
    James Judd
  2. 2 An Outdoor Overture 08:57
    Track
    2
    Title
    An Outdoor Overture
    Duration
    08:57
    Composer
    Aaron Copland
    Ensemble
    National Orchestral Institute Philharmonic
    Conductor
    James Judd
  3. 3 No. 1. To the Poem 03:23
    Track
    3
    Title
    No. 1. To the Poem
    Duration
    03:23
    Composer
    Leonard Bernstein
    Performer
    Kerriann Otaño, Taylor Raven, Zoie Reams, Alexander McKissick, Joshua Conyers, Patrick Guetti
    Ensemble
    National Orchestral Institute Philharmonic
    Conductor
    James Judd
  4. 4 No. 2. The Pennycandy Store Beyond the El 01:51
    Track
    4
    Title
    No. 2. The Pennycandy Store Beyond the El
    Duration
    01:51
    Composer
    Leonard Bernstein
    Performer
    Joshua Conyers
    Ensemble
    National Orchestral Institute Philharmonic
    Conductor
    James Judd
  5. 5 No. 3. A Julia de Burgos 03:37
    Track
    5
    Title
    No. 3. A Julia de Burgos
    Duration
    03:37
    Composer
    Leonard Bernstein
    Performer
    Kerriann Otaño
    Ensemble
    National Orchestral Institute Philharmonic
    Conductor
    James Judd
  6. 6 No. 4. To What You Said 05:36
    Track
    6
    Title
    No. 4. To What You Said
    Duration
    05:36
    Composer
    Leonard Bernstein
    Performer
    Patrick Guetti
    Ensemble
    National Orchestral Institute Philharmonic
    Conductor
    James Judd
  7. 7 No. 5. I, too, Sing America - Okay "Negroes" 03:50
    Track
    7
    Title
    No. 5. I, too, Sing America - Okay "Negroes"
    Duration
    03:50
    Composer
    Leonard Bernstein
    Performer
    Zoie Reams, Joshua Conyers
    Ensemble
    National Orchestral Institute Philharmonic
    Conductor
    James Judd
  8. 8 No. 6. To my Dear and Loving Husband 03:54
    Track
    8
    Title
    No. 6. To my Dear and Loving Husband
    Duration
    03:54
    Composer
    Leonard Bernstein
    Performer
    Kerriann Otaño, Taylor Raven, Zoie Reams
    Ensemble
    National Orchestral Institute Philharmonic
    Conductor
    James Judd
  9. 9 No. 7. Storyette H.M. 01:54
    Track
    9
    Title
    No. 7. Storyette H.M.
    Duration
    01:54
    Composer
    Leonard Bernstein
    Performer
    Kerriann Otaño, Patrick Guetti
    Ensemble
    National Orchestral Institute Philharmonic
    Conductor
    James Judd
  10. 10 No. 8. If you can't eat you got to 02:25
    Track
    10
    Title
    No. 8. If you can't eat you got to
    Duration
    02:25
    Composer
    Leonard Bernstein
    Performer
    Kerriann Otaño, Taylor Raven, Zoie Reams, Alexander McKissick, Joshua Conyers, Patrick Guetti
    Ensemble
    National Orchestral Institute Philharmonic
    Conductor
    James Judd
  11. 11 No. 9. Music I Heard With You 04:06
    Track
    11
    Title
    No. 9. Music I Heard With You
    Duration
    04:06
    Composer
    Leonard Bernstein
    Performer
    Taylor Raven
    Ensemble
    National Orchestral Institute Philharmonic
    Conductor
    James Judd
  12. 12 No. 10. Zizi's Lament 02:30
    Track
    12
    Title
    No. 10. Zizi's Lament
    Duration
    02:30
    Composer
    Leonard Bernstein
    Performer
    Alexander McKissick
    Ensemble
    National Orchestral Institute Philharmonic
    Conductor
    James Judd
  13. 13 No. 11. What Lips My Lips Have Kissed 05:00
    Track
    13
    Title
    No. 11. What Lips My Lips Have Kissed
    Duration
    05:00
    Composer
    Leonard Bernstein
    Performer
    Zoie Reams
    Ensemble
    National Orchestral Institute Philharmonic
    Conductor
    James Judd
  14. 14 No. 12. Israfel 04:40
    Track
    14
    Title
    No. 12. Israfel
    Duration
    04:40
    Composer
    Leonard Bernstein
    Performer
    Kerriann Otaño, Taylor Raven, Zoie Reams, Alexander McKissick, Joshua Conyers, Patrick Guetti
    Ensemble
    National Orchestral Institute Philharmonic
    Conductor
    James Judd