He believed that “true music must reflect the thought and aspirations of the people and time. My people are Americans. My time is today.” Rumour has it he tried to get lessons from all the composers he’d met, such was his low regard of his own talent and skills. But when he approached Maurice Ravel, the Frenchman replied, “Why become a second-rate Ravel when you're already a first-rate Gershwin?” In his orchestral works such as Rhapsody in Blue, operas such as Porgy and Bess, songs and Broadway musicals, George Gershwin combined classical, jazz and popular music like no other composer. His Cuban Overture and Catfish Row (the instrumental suite from Porgy and Bess) resound at the Kraków Philharmonic on 9 and 10 February. The Kraków Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Jean-Luc Tingaud presents an early celebration of the approaching 120th anniversary of the composer’s birth.
The concert also features Witold Lutosławski’s Dance Preludes and Tadeusz Paciorkiewicz’s Divertimento, with the solo parts performed by the young, multi-award winning clarinettist Barbara Borowicz. (Barbara Skowrońska)
George Gerswhin Cuban Overture
Witold Lutosławski Dance Preludes
Tadeusz Paciorkiewicz Divertimento for clarinet and string orchestra
Maurice Ravel Valses nobles et sentimentales
George Gershwin Catfish Row (suite from Porgy & Bess)
Barbara Borowicz – clarinet
Kraków Philharmonic Orchestra
Jean-Luc Tingaud – conductor
