Arthur Fiedler /BPO - Gershwin: An American in Paris / Rhapsody in Blue (1960) 24-Bit/96-kHz Vinyl Rip

Gershwin’s instrumental masterpiece is the brief Rhapsody in Blue, written first for solo piano (not by Gershwin, who reportedly could neither read nor write music notation) then orchestrated in several versions by its commissioner, band leader Paul Whiteman. The work is a brief and effective encyclopaedic showcase for the rhythmic and instrumental trademarks of the "jazz" style. Fiedler’s performance of the arrangement for symphony orchestra is one of the most effective. Pianist Wild played the work at least fifty times with Whiteman’s band and by the time of this 1959 recording his fingers had lost none of their firm, agile grasp of the music. Gershwin himself recorded the solo piano version on a piano roll, and therein hangs the tale of the first of the referenced alternative recordings above. By individually blocking out those notes on the piano roll that represented the accompaniment, Gershwin was able forty years after his death to be made to "play" the piano solo part in the Michael Tilson Thomas recording of what is at least the fastest and probably the most effective modern sound recording of the jazz band version, a four channel master which should appear on disk some day as a surround sound SACD.
(Paul Shoemaker - MusicWeb)

Performers:
Boston Pops Orchestra conducted by Arthur Fiedler
Earl Wild - piano
Pasquale Cardillo - clarinet

Track Listing:

1. Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue
2. Gershwin: An American in Paris