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Definitive "Porgy and Bess" Recording?

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#1

Definitive "Porgy and Bess" Recording?

Posted: 5/28/15 at 1:02pm

I have been listening to the revival recording of Porgy and Bess lately because of the phenomenal Audra McDonald ("What You Want With Bess?" in equally thrilling and heart wrenching). I know the production was controversal because of the cuts and changes to the story. What is the best recording of the score - and the most complete - that I should get to become more familiar with the rest of the music. I simply adore what I've heard and would love to hear more. Thank you!

"Sticks and stones, sister. Here, have a Valium." - Patti LuPone, a Memoir

#2

Definitive

Posted: 5/28/15 at 1:25pm

Hands down the 1977 Houston Grand Opera recording is the most effective recording. It is also complete I believe. Truly the best for this score!

Keeping BroadwayWorld Illustrated

#3

Definitive

Posted: 5/28/15 at 2:10pm

Yup. 1977 recording. The highlights disc of that recording is also the definitive highlights disc of the show.

#4

Definitive

Posted: 5/28/15 at 2:16pm

Houston Grand Opera

#5

Definitive

Posted: 5/28/15 at 2:55pm

I'll add my vote for the Houston Grand Opera version. Nothing else comes even close!

#6

Definitive

Posted: 5/28/15 at 3:00pm

The Houston Grand Opera recording is definitive, sure. And an excellent performance and recording. I recommend it wholeheartedly.

But my favorite PORGY AND BESS recording, despite the cuts, is the Goddard Lieberson produced/Lehman Engel conducted recording Columbia made in the early 1950s. For my money, Lawrence Winters is the definitive Porgy. Wanna know why Sondheim made a big deal about the goat? Well, listen to Lawrence Winters shout, "Bring my goat!" at the end of that recording, and you'll hear why. And yes, there are cuts, but they don't distort the piece and they're not rewrites. And they're not that extensive, for my money.

I wouldn't touch that Audra/Paulus recording with a ten foot pole. Despite the fact that Tommy Krasker very lovingly produced it (as he does with all of his albums), there was nothing loving about that performance or production. Except for Phillip Boykin's Crown, it was a travesty.

#7

Definitive

Posted: 5/28/15 at 3:22pm

I'd like to say a word for Simon Rattle's 1989 recording. Not as authentic, maybe, as the HGO, but the cast is stupendous.

#8

Definitive

Posted: 5/28/15 at 3:25pm

Lawrence Winters also appeared on the 1960 London Studio Cast, which is also quite good.

If you are looking for definitive performances, you can't beat the 1940 recording with the original Porgy (Todd Duncan) and the original Bess (Anne Brown).

#9

Definitive

Posted: 5/28/15 at 5:48pm

Another Houston vote.

#10

Definitive

Posted: 5/28/15 at 7:32pm

A question about the Houston recording. A few years ago when I wanted THE recording for PAB I was recommended and bought it. The initial cut- summertime- is very quiet, much quieter than the rest of the recording. Is this a defect in mine or is this possibly, for some reason, intentional?

#11

Definitive

Posted: 5/28/15 at 9:22pm

"I'd like to say a word for Simon Rattle's 1989 recording. Not as authentic, maybe, as the HGO, but the cast is stupendous."

Some of that recording is amazing, and I think it may contain more music than the Houston--but Rattle also takes some of his tempi SOOOOO slow.

Houston would be my choice too--Thomas Z Shepherd did typically amazing job at producing it and making it theatrical. I believe RCA just reissued it for cheap as well (the one cover not the brown one.)

However the one that's gotten the most play from me is the 1960s one with Leontyne Price and William Warfield as well as the original Sportin Life It's highlights, but it does contain most of the music I love the most (much of the cast had toured in the show,) although it may be lacking some credibility because, for example, theyget Leontyne to sing Summertime. Still it's a fantastic, thrilling recording that also still *sounds* in terms of recording quality outstanding and you can get copies from AMazon Marketplace for next to nothing http://www.amazon.com/Great-Scenes-Gershwins-Porgy-Bess/dp/B00000I9MJ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1432862489&sr=8-1&keywords=porgy+and+bess+leontyne

#12

Definitive

Posted: 5/28/15 at 9:24pm

"A question about the Houston recording. A few years ago when I wanted THE recording for PAB I was recommended and bought it. The initial cut- summertime- is very quiet, much quieter than the rest of the recording. Is this a defect in mine or is this possibly, for some reason, intentional? "

Pretty sure it's intentional for whatever reason (well, it is a lullabye...) The recording in general, like a lot of older recordings especially of opera, has low sound levels lacking the compression we now are used to. I ended up buying the reissue (I had scratched my original) that I mentioned and I am PRETTY sure, despite a note saying it had been remastered they sounded exactly the same--I did a back to back test with some songs-but don't remember Summertime. I can check--however the issue you mention would exist for all copies of that pressing, it's not something (as I'm sure you know) that just one disc would have.

#13

Definitive

Posted: 5/28/15 at 9:25pm

I also vote for the Houston Grand Opera. Absolutely stunning and almost as wonderful as the performance was live!

i used to have the recording on vinyl and now have it downloaded to iTunes. "Summertime" is indeed quiet in both versions. Probably because she's trying to put the baby to sleep, but it also serves notice to the audience that they will have to pay attention.

#14

Definitive

Posted: 5/28/15 at 9:57pm

Thanks. Those thoughts are helpful. I promise myself that I won't become annoyed the next time I play it.

#15

Definitive

Posted: 5/28/15 at 10:21pm

Thank you all - looks like the first one to get is the Houston Grand Opera! Very excited - I bet the original orchestrations are thrilling.

"Sticks and stones, sister. Here, have a Valium." - Patti LuPone, a Memoir

#16

Definitive

Posted: 5/28/15 at 11:56pm

Yeah the HGO recording is spectacularly low compared to other recordings but if you just turn up the volume and you're fine!

The orchestrations are thrilling indeed, the "I Wants To Stay Here/I Loves You Porgy" section is just so marvelous, I listen to it constantly. The orchestra is so crisp.

Keeping BroadwayWorld Illustrated

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