George Gershwin

Better known today for his musicals and popular songs, Gershwin's Porgy and Bess is one of the most successful operas of the twentieth century; its best known arias, such as "Summertime," have been recorded by musicians of every sort, from opera to jazz to rock. Blue Monday, written during Gershwin's early years on Broadway, is more of a series of popular songs strung together with recitative.

• Blue Monday (135th Street), jazz opera (1922, The George White Scandals of 1922)
• Porgy and Bess
  Libretto by DuBose Heyward and Ira Gershwin after the novel and play Porgy by DuBose Heyward.
  October 10, 1935, Alvin Theatre, New York, New York

Discography

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George Gershwin Porgy and Bess London Symphony Orchestra/Rattle 3 CD / EMI Classics (2005)	George Gershwin Blue Monday Bazemore/Haskin CD / Aura 174 (1999)
Selections from Porgy and Bess Blue Monday on George Gershwin Porgy and Bess/Blue Monday Bishop/Baker, Cincinnati Pops/Kunzel CD / Telarc 80434 (1998)	excerpts from Porgy and Bess ((with Helen Jepson)) on Lawrence Tibbett: From Broadway to Hollywood CD / Nimbus NI7881 (1999)
"Summertime" and "My man's gone now" from Porgy and Bess on Renee Fleming I Want Magic! American Opera Arias CD / Polygram 160567 (1998)	George Gershwin Porgy and Bess White/Haymon/Blackwell/Baker, ENO/Rattle 3 CD / Angel 56220 (1997)
George Gershwin Porgy and Bess (first complete recording) Willard White/Leona Mitchell/McHenry Boatwright, Cleveland Orchestra/Maazel 3 CD / Decca (1976)

Videography

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George Gershwin Porgy and Bess White/Haymon, Glyndebourne/Rattle DVD / EMI (1993)

Last update: January 1, 2009