You know you're listening to the classical station pledge drive when you are briefly pulled out of concentrating on your speadsheet by the phrase "This CD is almost R-Rated. It is the sexiest Gershwin you will ever here; and I've heard it all."
If you feel the need to go all the way with Gershwin, call go to KUSC and give Jim Svejda my regards...
Incidentally, the CD in question (now sadly OP, but re-printed specially for KUSC fund drives by permission of the conductor) is the recording of Rhapsody in Blue, American In Paris and Concerto in F conducted by Mitch Miller, who travelled with Gershwin, which is said to be the best recording of Gershwin out there. Of course, you do have to pledge $120 to get it... (Seeing as I only listen on the internet any more, I might have to go the low road and search ebay for it one of these days. It, like so many other things, is on my list.)
I dunno. I've heard the Miller recording of Rhapsody once, and though enjoyable, I hardly thought it the best Gershwin I've ever heard. It seemed more "easy-listening" than jazzy. But it's been a while, and everyone has their own personal preferences.
ReplyDeleteI kind of preferred the Chicago Symphony with Levine, but ...
ReplyDeleteIf they consider this stuff nearly R-rated, I'd love to see how they rate Renee Fleming. Except my wife would probably shut down the whole show.