Gershwin: Porgy and Bess

I don't know what it is, but there's something gorgeous in the music of Gershwin's opera Porgy and Bess. It touches me much more than common Jazz, it's not that sensual, it's not angelical either. For the first time in my life, I don't know how to explain music.

Let's just say I very much recommend it. At least for me, it gave me new kinds of musical impressions and emotions.

which version are you listening to?

The Gil Evans/Miles Davis collaboration is exquisite....

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Some old one I had around, Louis Armstrong/Ella Fitzgerald.

Which do you guys prefer?

The classically trained singers.. or the more music theater-trained singers??

One of those works that just define boundaries...

The Classical School will never admit to it being classical

The Jazz School will never admit to be it being jazz

... but both will admit its darn good

Also which pieces are talking about in Porgy and Bess?

its hard to take pieces out of such a constructed masterpiece like P&G

It's not hard to take pieces out. Summertime being the greatest example, now a jam session standard.

And, as for a vocal style preferance - classical or theatrical...

Speaking specifically on Summertime, I absolutely hate it when given an operatic treatment. I HATE it...can't freakin' stand it. Nor can I stand a theatrical approach.

I just want someone to sing the tune...I don't want vibrato, or freaky high glassandos and jazz-hands.

...IN FACT (after a quick perusal of my iTunes), I have NO vocal versions of Summertime...or I Loves You, Porgy (the other popular tune)... Perhaps in hard copy I may have one - I'm sure Sarah Vaughn did a version I liked.

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i guess what i meant was, that the composed version of P&G in it's entirity is so much better than the sum of its parts.