Gershwin in Hollywood
Donald Macleod tells the story of George Gershwinβs first experience of working in Hollywood.
Donald Macleod tells the story of George Gershwinβs first experience of working in Hollywood.
In the spring of 1930, it was announced that Fox Studios had signed George Gershwin for a large sum of money for to provide the music for a film called Delicious.
Sound in films was still relatively new and Gershwin was sceptical. At first he enjoyed the Californian sunshine, but he quickly tired of the endless βpicture talkβ and all the distraction while trying to work in his bungalow at Foxβs Movietone City. He gave it up and worked from his home in Beverly Hills, relaxing by swimming, hiking and playing tennis and golf.
It was a lucrative exercise for Gershwin, but not a good time to experience Hollywood. But he did use his time fruitfully. As he told a friend: βnearly everybody comes back from California with a western tan and a pocketful of motion picture money. I decided to come back with both these things and a serious composition.β
But Not For Me
Benny Goodman Trio
Blah Blah Blah
Lukas Huisman, piano
Embraceable You
Andre Previn, piano
David Finck, double bass
Second Rhapsody
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor
I Got Rhythm
Ethel Merman
Variations on I Got Rhythm
St Louis Symphony Orchestra
Leonard Slatkin, conductor
Jeffrey Siegel, piano
Rhapsody in Blue
Glen Miller and his Orchestra
Last on
Music Played
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George Gershwin
But Not For Me
Ensemble: Benny Goodman Trio.- CAPITAL RECORDS : DD5-21225.
- CAPITAL RECORDS.
- 17.
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George Gershwin
Blah, Blah, Blah
Music Arranger: Michael Finnissy. Performer: Lukas Huisman.- PIANO CLASSICS : PCL-10218.
- PIANO CLASSICS.
- 12.
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George Gershwin
Embraceable You
Performer: AndrΓ© Previn. Performer: David Finck.- DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON : dg-453 493 2.
- DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.
- 7.
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George Gershwin
Second Rhapsody
Performer: Michael Tilson Thomas. Conductor: Michael Tilson Thomas. Orchestra: Los Angeles Philharmonic.- SONY CLASSICAL : MK-39699.
- SONY CLASSICAL.
- 5.
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George Gershwin
Cuban Overture
Performer: Orchestre symphonique de MontrΓ©al.- DECCA : 425-111-2.
- DECCA.
- 4.
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George Gershwin
I Got Rhythm
Singer: Ethel Merman.- SEPIA : SEPIA1221.
- SEPIA.
- 1.
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George Gershwin
Variations on 'I Got Rhythm'
Performer: Jeffrey Siegel. Orchestra: Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Leonard Slatkin.- MENUETTO CLASSICS : 4809906357.
- MENUETTO CLASSICS.
- 1.
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George Gershwin
Rhapsody in Blue
Ensemble: Glenn Miller Orchestra. Conductor: Glenn Miller.
Broadcast
- Thu 29 Jun 2023 12:00ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3
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