Gershwin: Concerto in F; Rhapsody No. 2; I Got Rhythm Variations (2012)

performed by Orion Weiss (piano), Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, JoAnn Falletta (conductor)
composed by George Gershwin

Even without the Rhapsody in Blue, and even with the comparatively rarely heard Rhapsody No. 2 for piano and orchestra, there is absolutely no shortage of recordings of the music on this Naxos release. But it merits strong consideration from Gershwin fans, and not only for its budget price. The chief attraction is the Concerto in F, which pianist Orion Weiss and conductor JoAnn Falletta approach less as a cousin to the Rhapsody in Blue than as the most elaborate development of Gershwin's purely classical side. He set out to ... Read More

Even without the Rhapsody in Blue, and even with the comparatively rarely heard Rhapsody No. 2 for piano and orchestra, there is absolutely no shortage of recordings of the music on this Naxos release. But it merits strong consideration from Gershwin fans, and not only for its budget price. The chief attraction is the Concerto in F, which pianist Orion Weiss and conductor JoAnn Falletta approach less as a cousin to the Rhapsody in Blue than as the most elaborate development of Gershwin's purely classical side. He set out to write a work in classical three-movement concerto form but actually achieved something slightly different: a group of unique ways of developing jazz- and blues-flavored material. The restrained, almost deliberate approach offered by Weiss and Falletta runs counter to type for Gershwin but brings out many small details in the concerto. It works a bit less well in the brash, cinematic Rhapsody No. 2 (the work, originally entitled "Rhapsody in Rivets," was written for a film... Read Less