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.

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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:

  • Nov 7 Friday
    Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace

    Time: 13:00
    Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace

  • Nov 7 Friday
    Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 17:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Nov 7 Friday
    Classic Spectacular

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

  • Nov 7 Friday
    World famous compositions by world famous composers

    Time: 19:00
    St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square

  • Nov 7 Friday
    Famous Organ Concerts

    Time: 19:00
    St. Francis Church

  • Nov 7 Friday
    Cosmic Cabinet

    Time: 20:00
    Image - Black Light Theatre

  • Nov 8 Saturday
    Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace

    Time: 13:00
    Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace

  • Nov 8 Saturday
    Vivaldi Four Seasons

    Time: 17:00
    St. Giles Church

  • Nov 8 Saturday
    The Best of World and Czech Music

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

  • Nov 8 Saturday
    Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 17:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Nov 8 Saturday
    Classic Spectacular

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

  • Nov 8 Saturday
    Music World between baroque and jazz in a virtuoso performance

    Time: 19:00
    St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square

  • Nov 8 Saturday
    Mozart Dinner - Your private opera in Prague

    Time: 19:00
    Boccaccio Ballroom

  • Nov 8 Saturday
    Sinatra Tribute – show and dinner

    Time: 19:00
    Art Restaurant Manes

  • Nov 8 Saturday
    Famous Organ Concerts

    Time: 19:00
    St. Francis Church

  • Nov 8 Saturday
    The Four Seasons, Emperor Concerto & Chopin in Mirror Chapel with piano

    Time: 19:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Nov 8 Saturday
    Pachelbel, Mozart and Vivaldi in the Municipal House

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

  • Nov 9 Sunday
    Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace

    Time: 13:00
    Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace

  • Nov 9 Sunday
    The Best of Czech and World Music

    Time: 15:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Nov 9 Sunday
    Vivaldi Four Seasons in Old Prague

    Time: 17:00
    St. Giles Church

  • Nov 9 Sunday
    Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 17:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Nov 9 Sunday
    Bolero, Carmina Burana

    Time: 17:30
    Spanish Synagogue

  • Nov 9 Sunday
    Classic Spectacular

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

  • Nov 9 Sunday
    Famous organ works and duets for soprano and trumpet

    Time: 19:00
    St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square

  • Nov 9 Sunday
    WOW Show

    Time: 20:00
    WOW - Black Light Theatre

  • Nov 10 Monday
    Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace

    Time: 13:00
    Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace

  • Nov 10 Monday
    Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 17:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Nov 10 Monday
    Hallelujah

    Time: 17:30
    Spanish Synagogue

  • Nov 10 Monday
    Classic Spectacular

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

  • Nov 10 Monday
    The Best of Classics

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

  • Nov 10 Monday
    Cosmic Cabinet

    Time: 20:00
    Image - Black Light Theatre

  • Nov 11 Tuesday
    Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace

    Time: 13:00
    Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace

  • Nov 11 Tuesday
    Vivaldi Four Seasons

    Time: 16:30
    St. Giles Church

  • Nov 11 Tuesday
    Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 17:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Nov 11 Tuesday
    The Best of Classics

    Time: 19:00
    St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square

  • Nov 11 Tuesday
    Mozart Dinner - Your private opera in Prague

    Time: 19:00
    Boccaccio Ballroom

  • Nov 11 Tuesday
    Vivaldi - The Four Seasons

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

  • Nov 11 Tuesday
    The Four Seasons, Emperor Concerto & Chopin in Mirror Chapel with piano

    Time: 19:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Nov 11 Tuesday
    Vivaldi - The Four Seasons, Sarasate - Gypsy Airs op. 20

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

  • Nov 11 Tuesday
    WOW Show

    Time: 20:00
    WOW - Black Light Theatre

  • Nov 12 Wednesday
    Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace

    Time: 13:00
    Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace

  • Nov 12 Wednesday
    The Best of Classics

    Time: 17:00
    Municipal House (Obecní dům), Gregr Hall

  • Nov 12 Wednesday
    Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 17:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Nov 12 Wednesday
    Classic Spectacular

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

  • Nov 12 Wednesday
    Great Baroque and Classical Music

    Time: 19:00
    St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square

  • Nov 12 Wednesday
    Afrikania

    Time: 20:00
    Image - Black Light Theatre

  • Nov 13 Thursday
    Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace

    Time: 13:00
    Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace

  • Nov 13 Thursday
    Vivaldi Four Seasons in Old Prague

    Time: 16:30
    St. Giles Church

  • Nov 13 Thursday
    The Best of Mozart and Dvorak

    Time: 17:00
    Municipal House (Obecní dům), Gregr Hall

  • Nov 13 Thursday
    Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 17:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Nov 13 Thursday
    Classic Spectacular

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

  • Nov 13 Thursday
    GREAT MUSIC IN A GREAT SPACE

    Time: 19:00
    St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square

  • Nov 13 Thursday
    Vivaldi - The Four Seasons

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

  • Nov 13 Thursday
    The Four Seasons, Emperor Concerto & Chopin in Mirror Chapel with piano

    Time: 19:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Nov 14 Friday
    Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace

    Time: 13:00
    Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace

  • Nov 14 Friday
    The Best of Swan Lake - P. I. Tchaikovsky

    Time: 17:00
    Broadway Theatre

  • Nov 14 Friday
    Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 17:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Nov 14 Friday
    Classic Spectacular

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

  • Nov 14 Friday
    Music World between baroque and jazz in a virtuoso performance

    Time: 19:00
    St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square

  • Nov 14 Friday
    Famous Organ Concerts

    Time: 19:00
    St. Francis Church

  • Nov 14 Friday
    The Best of Image

    Time: 20:00
    Image - Black Light Theatre

  • Nov 15 Saturday
    Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace

    Time: 13:00
    Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace

  • Nov 15 Saturday
    Vivaldi Four Seasons

    Time: 17:00
    St. Giles Church

  • Nov 15 Saturday
    The Best of World and Czech Music

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

  • Nov 15 Saturday
    Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 17:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Nov 15 Saturday
    Classic Spectacular

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

  • Nov 15 Saturday
    World famous compositions by world famous composers

    Time: 19:00
    St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square

  • Nov 15 Saturday
    Mozart Dinner - Your private opera in Prague

    Time: 19:00
    Boccaccio Ballroom

  • Nov 15 Saturday
    Vivaldi - The Four Seasons

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

  • Nov 15 Saturday
    Famous Organ Concerts

    Time: 19:00
    St. Francis Church

  • Nov 15 Saturday
    The Four Seasons, Emperor Concerto & Chopin in Mirror Chapel with piano

    Time: 19:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Nov 15 Saturday
    Romantic Masterpieces for Violin and Piano | Rudolfinum

    Time: 19:00
    Rudolfinum, Suk hall

  • Nov 15 Saturday
    Abrakadabra

    Time: 20:00
    Image - Black Light Theatre

  • Nov 15 Saturday
    Pachelbel, Mozart and Vivaldi in the Municipal House

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

  • Nov 16 Sunday
    Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace

    Time: 13:00
    Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace

  • Nov 16 Sunday
    The Best of Czech and World Music

    Time: 15:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Nov 16 Sunday
    Vivaldi Four Seasons in Old Prague

    Time: 17:00
    St. Giles Church

  • Nov 16 Sunday
    Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 17:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Nov 16 Sunday
    Bolero, Carmina Burana

    Time: 17:30
    Spanish Synagogue

  • Nov 16 Sunday
    Classic Spectacular

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

  • Nov 16 Sunday
    The Best of Classics

    Time: 19:00
    St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square

  • Nov 16 Sunday
    The Best of Mozart and Dvorak

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

  • Nov 16 Sunday
    WOW Show

    Time: 20:00
    WOW - Black Light Theatre

  • Nov 17 Monday
    Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace

    Time: 13:00
    Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace

  • Nov 17 Monday
    Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 17:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Nov 17 Monday
    Hallelujah

    Time: 17:30
    Spanish Synagogue

  • Nov 17 Monday
    Classic Spectacular

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

  • Nov 17 Monday
    Music of the Great Baroque Masters

    Time: 19:00
    St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square

  • Nov 17 Monday
    The Best of Classics

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

  • Nov 18 Tuesday
    Pearls of Classical Music in Prague Castle - Lobkowicz Palace

    Time: 13:00
    Prague Castle, Lobkowicz Palace

  • Nov 18 Tuesday
    Vivaldi Four Seasons

    Time: 16:30
    St. Giles Church

  • Nov 18 Tuesday
    Classic Spectacular in Mirror Chapel

    Time: 17:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Nov 18 Tuesday
    Bolero, Carmina Burana

    Time: 17:30
    Spanish Synagogue

  • Nov 18 Tuesday
    From Baroque to Jazz with world famous pieces

    Time: 19:00
    St. Nicholas Church in the Old Town Square

  • Nov 18 Tuesday
    Mozart Dinner - Your private opera in Prague

    Time: 19:00
    Boccaccio Ballroom

  • Nov 18 Tuesday
    Vivaldi - The Four Seasons

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

  • Nov 18 Tuesday
    The Four Seasons, Emperor Concerto & Chopin in Mirror Chapel with piano

    Time: 19:00
    Klementinum, Mirror Chapel

  • Nov 18 Tuesday
    Vivaldi - The Four Seasons, Sarasate - Gypsy Airs op. 20

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

  • Nov 18 Tuesday
    WOW Show

    Time: 20:00
    WOW - Black Light Theatre

  • Nov 18 Tuesday
    The Best of Image

    Time: 20:00
    Image - Black Light Theatre

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