The first of two programmes in celebration of the many-sided genius of George Gershwin , who died 50 years ago yesterday. 1: From Tin Pan Alley to Carnegie Hall starring, in alphabetical order: Leonard Bernstein
Gregg Burge , The Copasetics Peter Donohoe , Madeline Kahn Nigel Kennedy , Larry Kert Cleo Laine , The Manhattan Rhythm Kings
Maureen McGovern
Julia Migenes , Erie Mills and Bobby Short
This journey through
Gershwin's creative life is narrated and conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas , one of the world's foremost Gershwin intarpreters. The music includes Gershwin's earliest pianola-roll, a rag called
'Rialto ripples', and his first published song, 'If you want 'em you can't get 'em'. Other highlights: 'Rhapsody in blue' - in the Paul Whiteman jazz version with soloist Michael Tilson Thomas , 'Naughty baby', Preludes, 'The man I love', the Finale of the Concerto in F with soloist Peter Donohoe , 'How long has this been going on?', 'But not for me', 'Someone to watch over me' and 'The king of swing'. With the Orchestra of St Luke's, The Manhattan Rhythm Kings,
London Symphony Orchestra led by MICHAEL DAVIS
A co-production with Channel 13/WNET New York
Given at the Brooklyn Academy of Music
Produced by ARTHUR WHITELAW with choreography and stage direction by PATRICIA BIRCH and designs by EDUARDO SICANGCO Studio designer DEREK DODD Associate producer JOHN WALKER Producers
DAVID HORN. DENNIS MARKS Director HUMPHREY BURTON