"Music must reflect the thoughts and aspirations of the people and the time. My people are American. My time is today."
In this first programme celebrating the centenary of Gershwin's birth, Rodney Greenberg traces the start of the meteoric career of this born melodist who changed the course of American music through his determination to succeed on Broadway and in the concert hall. Included are Gershwin on piano rolls; Al Jolson 's runaway success Swanee; excerpts from Blue Monday, a mini-opera which anticipated Porgy and Bess; and an ingenious recording of Rhapsody in Blue which grafts Gershwin's piano roll on to a jazz band conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas.
Producer Derek Drescher
Repeated next Monday 12 midnight