George Gershwin

(1898 - 1937)

George Gershwin - Prague Classical ConcertsThis American composer had a foot in two camps: pop music and concert music. He innovated in both, writing songs and Broadway musicals which not only define the 20s and 30s (especially Oh, Kay!, Girl Crazy, and Lady Be Good) but break paths which would be fully exploited only later (Strike Up the Band, Of Thee I Sing, and Let 'Em Eat Cake) with the Rodgers and Hammerstein "book" musicals of the 40s. For the concert hall, he invented a distinctive and immediately identifiable idiom with the poetically-named Rhapsody in Blue (1924) and Piano Concerto in F (1925). Almost every one of his concert works has entered the repertory, and, just as important, the American psyche. In that regard, he is the American equivalent of Verdi. People with no interest in opera hum parts of his Porgy and Bess (1935) without knowing where the material comes from or even that it's part of something larger.

Enjoy classical concerts of Gershwin music in Prague. Book tickets online >>>

He showed an absolute passion for improving his work. He managed to travel a great artistic distance from the relatively simple tunes of Rhapsody in Blue to the great formal resource of American in Paris (1928), Cuban Overture (1932), and many scenes in Porgy and Bess.

Much has been made of his debt to African-American music, and it is indeed a primary source of his inspiration, but it's not the only one. Igor Stravinsky, Claude Debussy, Piotr Tchaikovsky, and even Jewish chant also contribute to his (paradoxically) entirely original music. Those who would learn from him have to be careful not to wind up "doing" Gershwin.

His critical reputation has suffered among American critics trying to find and nurture a "serious" native style. Even now, his works usually appear on Pops programs, rather than during the regular season, and it has long been the fashion for critics to patronize the music. A really good, committed performance is hard to come by, although one can detect serious interest beginning to be directed toward the musicals and concert works. Europeans, unencumbered by distinctions of "high" and "low" art, have long considered him one of the century's great songwriters. His fans included Arnold Schoenberg, Maurice Ravel (who modeled both his mature violin sonata and his Piano Concerto in G on Gershwin's idiom), and Francis Poulenc.

True junk has a short shelf life. Gershwin's works remain fresh and ravishing after 70 years.

Upcoming classical concerts of the composer's music in Prague:

  • Feb 12 Thursday
    Vivaldi Four Seasons

    Time: 16:30
    St. Giles Church

  • Feb 12 Thursday
    Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 17:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Feb 12 Thursday
    Hallelujah

    Time: 17:30
    Spanish Synagogue

  • Feb 12 Thursday
    The Best of Swan Lake - P. I. Tchaikovsky

    Time: 19:00
    Broadway Theatre

  • Feb 12 Thursday
    Vivaldi - The Four Seasons

    Time: 19:00
    Klementinum, St. Clement's Cathedral

  • Feb 12 Thursday
    Cosmic Cabinet

    Time: 20:00
    Image - Black Light Theatre

  • Feb 13 Friday
    Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace

    Time: 13:00
    Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace

  • Feb 13 Friday
    Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 17:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Feb 13 Friday
    Organ and Trumpet

    Time: 18:00
    St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square

  • Feb 13 Friday
    Classic Spectacular

    Time: 18:30
    Klementinum, St. Salvator Church (Charles Bridge)

  • Feb 13 Friday
    Mozart Dinner - Your private opera in Prague

    Time: 19:00
    Boccaccio Ballroom

  • Feb 13 Friday
    The Best of Image

    Time: 20:00
    Image - Black Light Theatre

  • Feb 13 Friday
    Strauss, Mozart, Dvorak & Opera with Ballet

    Time: 20:00
    Municipal House (Obecní dům), Smetana hall

  • Feb 13 Friday
    WOW Show

    Time: 21:30
    WOW - Black Light Theatre

  • Feb 14 Saturday
    Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace

    Time: 13:00
    Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace

  • Feb 14 Saturday
    Vivaldi Four Seasons

    Time: 16:30
    St. Giles Church

  • Feb 14 Saturday
    The Best of World and Czech Music

    Time: 17:00
    St. Martin in the Wall Church

  • Feb 14 Saturday
    Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 17:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Feb 14 Saturday
    Vivaldi - The Four Seasons

    Time: 19:00
    Klementinum, St. Clement's Cathedral

  • Feb 14 Saturday
    Sinatra Tribute – show and dinner

    Time: 19:00
    Art Restaurant Manes

  • Feb 14 Saturday
    The Four Seasons, Emperor Concerto & Chopin in Mirror Chapel with piano

    Time: 19:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Feb 14 Saturday
    Afrikania

    Time: 20:00
    Image - Black Light Theatre

  • Feb 14 Saturday
    The Best of Swan Lake - P. I. Tchaikovsky

    Time: 21:30
    Broadway Theatre

  • Feb 15 Sunday
    Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace

    Time: 13:00
    Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace

  • Feb 15 Sunday
    Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 17:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Feb 15 Sunday
    Bolero, Carmina Burana

    Time: 17:30
    Spanish Synagogue

  • Feb 15 Sunday
    Classic Spectacular

    Time: 17:30
    Klementinum, St. Salvator Church (Charles Bridge)

  • Feb 15 Sunday
    WOW Show

    Time: 20:00
    WOW - Black Light Theatre

  • Feb 15 Sunday
    HOLLYWOOD MOVIE MUSIC

    Time: 20:00
    Municipal House (Obecní dům), Smetana hall

  • Feb 16 Monday
    Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace

    Time: 13:00
    Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace

  • Feb 16 Monday
    Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 17:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Feb 16 Monday
    Hallelujah

    Time: 17:30
    Spanish Synagogue

  • Feb 16 Monday
    Classic Spectacular

    Time: 18:30
    Klementinum, St. Salvator Church (Charles Bridge)

  • Feb 16 Monday
    The Best of Image

    Time: 20:00
    Image - Black Light Theatre

  • Feb 17 Tuesday
    Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace

    Time: 13:00
    Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace

  • Feb 17 Tuesday
    Vivaldi Four Seasons

    Time: 16:30
    St. Giles Church

  • Feb 17 Tuesday
    Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 17:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Feb 17 Tuesday
    Mozart Dinner - Your private opera in Prague

    Time: 19:00
    Boccaccio Ballroom

  • Feb 17 Tuesday
    Vivaldi - The Four Seasons

    Time: 19:00
    Klementinum, St. Clement's Cathedral

  • Feb 17 Tuesday
    Vivaldi - The Four Seasons, Sarasate - Gypsy Airs op. 20

    Time: 20:00
    Municipal House (Obecní dům), Smetana hall

  • Feb 18 Wednesday
    Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace

    Time: 13:00
    Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace

  • Feb 18 Wednesday
    Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 17:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Feb 18 Wednesday
    The Best of World and Czech Music

    Time: 17:30
    Spanish Synagogue

  • Feb 18 Wednesday
    The Best of Classics

    Time: 20:00
    Municipal House (Obecní dům), Smetana hall

  • Feb 18 Wednesday
    WOW Show

    Time: 20:00
    WOW - Black Light Theatre

  • Feb 18 Wednesday
    Abrakadabra

    Time: 20:00
    Image - Black Light Theatre

  • Feb 19 Thursday
    Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace

    Time: 13:00
    Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace

  • Feb 19 Thursday
    Vivaldi Four Seasons

    Time: 16:30
    St. Giles Church

  • Feb 19 Thursday
    Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 17:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Feb 19 Thursday
    Hallelujah

    Time: 17:30
    Spanish Synagogue

  • Feb 19 Thursday
    The Nutcracker - P. I. Tchaikovsky

    Time: 18:30
    Broadway Theatre

  • Feb 19 Thursday
    Vivaldi - The Four Seasons

    Time: 19:00
    Klementinum, St. Clement's Cathedral

  • Feb 19 Thursday
    The Best of Mozart and Dvorak

    Time: 20:00
    Municipal House (Obecní dům), Smetana hall

  • Feb 20 Friday
    Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace

    Time: 13:00
    Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace

  • Feb 20 Friday
    Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 17:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Feb 20 Friday
    Classic Spectacular

    Time: 18:30
    Klementinum, St. Salvator Church (Charles Bridge)

  • Feb 20 Friday
    Vivaldi - The Four Seasons, Sarasate - Gypsy Airs op. 20

    Time: 20:00
    Municipal House (Obecní dům), Smetana hall

  • Feb 20 Friday
    WOW Show

    Time: 20:00
    WOW - Black Light Theatre

  • Feb 20 Friday
    The Best of Image

    Time: 20:00
    Image - Black Light Theatre

  • Feb 21 Saturday
    Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace

    Time: 13:00
    Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace

  • Feb 21 Saturday
    Vivaldi Four Seasons

    Time: 16:30
    St. Giles Church

  • Feb 21 Saturday
    The Best of World and Czech Music

    Time: 17:00
    St. Martin in the Wall Church

  • Feb 21 Saturday
    Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 17:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Feb 21 Saturday
    Famous Pieces For Soprano and Organ

    Time: 18:00
    St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square

  • Feb 21 Saturday
    Mozart Dinner - Your private opera in Prague

    Time: 19:00
    Boccaccio Ballroom

  • Feb 21 Saturday
    Vivaldi - The Four Seasons

    Time: 19:00
    Klementinum, St. Clement's Cathedral

  • Feb 21 Saturday
    Sinatra Tribute – show and dinner

    Time: 19:00
    Art Restaurant Manes

  • Feb 21 Saturday
    The Four Seasons, Emperor Concerto & Chopin in Mirror Chapel with piano

    Time: 19:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Feb 21 Saturday
    Cosmic Cabinet

    Time: 20:00
    Image - Black Light Theatre

  • Feb 21 Saturday
    Cosmic Cabinet

    Time: 20:00
    Image - Black Light Theatre

  • Feb 21 Saturday
    The Best of Swan Lake - P. I. Tchaikovsky

    Time: 21:30
    Broadway Theatre

  • Feb 22 Sunday
    Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace

    Time: 13:00
    Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace

  • Feb 22 Sunday
    Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 17:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Feb 22 Sunday
    Bolero, Carmina Burana

    Time: 17:30
    Spanish Synagogue

  • Feb 22 Sunday
    Classic Spectacular

    Time: 17:30
    Klementinum, St. Salvator Church (Charles Bridge)

  • Feb 22 Sunday
    The Best of Classic and Opera with Ballet

    Time: 20:00
    Municipal House (Obecní dům), Smetana hall

  • Feb 22 Sunday
    WOW Show

    Time: 20:00
    WOW - Black Light Theatre

  • Feb 23 Monday
    Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace

    Time: 13:00
    Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace

  • Feb 23 Monday
    Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 17:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Feb 23 Monday
    Hallelujah

    Time: 17:30
    Spanish Synagogue

  • Feb 23 Monday
    Vivaldi - The Four Seasons, Sarasate - Gypsy Airs op. 20

    Time: 20:00
    Municipal House (Obecní dům), Smetana hall

  • Feb 24 Tuesday
    Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace

    Time: 13:00
    Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace

  • Feb 24 Tuesday
    Vivaldi Four Seasons

    Time: 16:30
    St. Giles Church

  • Feb 24 Tuesday
    Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 17:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Feb 24 Tuesday
    Mozart Dinner - Your private opera in Prague

    Time: 19:00
    Boccaccio Ballroom

  • Feb 24 Tuesday
    Vivaldi - The Four Seasons

    Time: 19:00
    Klementinum, St. Clement's Cathedral

  • Feb 24 Tuesday
    The Best of Mozart and Dvorak

    Time: 20:00
    Municipal House (Obecní dům), Smetana hall

  • Feb 24 Tuesday
    The Best of Image

    Time: 20:00
    Image - Black Light Theatre

  • Feb 25 Wednesday
    Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace

    Time: 13:00
    Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace

  • Feb 25 Wednesday
    Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 17:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Feb 25 Wednesday
    The Best of World and Czech Music

    Time: 17:30
    Spanish Synagogue

  • Feb 25 Wednesday
    Classic Spectacular

    Time: 18:30
    Klementinum, St. Salvator Church (Charles Bridge)

  • Feb 25 Wednesday
    The Best of Classics

    Time: 20:00
    Municipal House (Obecní dům), Smetana hall

  • Feb 25 Wednesday
    WOW Show

    Time: 20:00
    WOW - Black Light Theatre

  • Feb 25 Wednesday
    Afrikania

    Time: 20:00
    Image - Black Light Theatre

  • Feb 26 Thursday
    Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace

    Time: 13:00
    Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace

  • Feb 26 Thursday
    Vivaldi Four Seasons

    Time: 16:30
    St. Giles Church

  • Feb 26 Thursday
    Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 17:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Feb 26 Thursday
    Hallelujah

    Time: 17:30
    Spanish Synagogue

  • Feb 26 Thursday
    The Best of Swan Lake - P. I. Tchaikovsky

    Time: 19:00
    Broadway Theatre

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