What do Duke Ellington, United Airlines, and the K Pop group Red Velvet share in common? They've all covered George Gershwin's piano concerto, Rhapsody in Blue. First premiered in 1924, the piece became an immediate hit for the way it blended American jazz with the European symphonic tradition. Gershwin had a number of successes as a composer in his day—his aria "Summertime" from the opera Porgy and Bess is by some measures the most covered song ever—but the staying power of the Rhapsody make it a rare instrumental piece that's instantly familiar. Maybe too familiar.
In 2024, there will be many centennial performances of this iconic piece, but pianist Lara Downes wanted to do something more than just the sound the notes of Gershwin's score for the umpteenth time. Downes commissioned Puerto Rican musician Edmar Colon to create a new version of Gershwin's composition, one that brought in the full spectrum of American life in 1924: fiery improvisation, Latin percussion, and dance rhythms. The resultant piece both pays tribute to an American icon while adding a new set of modern counterpoint.
Nate sat down with Lara to ask her if she was nervous to rewrite such a canonic piece, why a concerto is like a musical kaleidoscope, and the surprising family connection to Gershwin's musical world she discovered while researching Rhapsody in Blue.
Songs Discussed
George Gershwin, Lara Downes, Edmar Colon - Rhapsody in Blue Reimagined
Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue
Gershwin - 3 Preludes: II. Andante con moto e poco rubato
Sarah Vaughan - Nice Work if You can Get It
Sam Cooke - Summertime
Chet Baker - But not For ME
Louis Armstrong - Aint Misbehavin
Ella Fitzgerald - Blue Skies
Red Velvet - Birthday
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The (murder) Ballad of Joe Exotic “Tiger King” (with Robert Moor)
D’Angelo and the Legacy of Voodoo (with Faith Pennick)
"Happy Birthday" is the Worst (with Anne-Marie)
Bad Bunny Has A Message For Your Mom
The Fire & Fury Of Overcoats
Can't Help Falling in Lauv (the interview)
What Happens When Justin Bieber Samples Your Music
Return Of The Guitar: Halsey, 5 Seconds of Summer, Joji
Look At Selena Gomez Now with Justin Tranter & Ian Kirkpatrick
Five Directions: How do the solo efforts of One Direction stack up?
Post Malone has us Running in Circles
Hopes and Fears of Mac Miller, Future, Drake, and Billie Eilish
Dua Lipa’s Disco Fever
ICYMI: Chance The Rapper, Kehlani, & The Shifting Sound of R&B — with Oak Felder
ICYMI: Billie Eilish is a Different Kind of Pop Star (ft. FINNEAS)
Dolly Parton's America (with Jad Abumrad)
Who's Afraid of the Sound of TikTok? (w Cat Zhang)
Paper Planes, Chandelier & What the #@%! is Timbre? (with Constance Grady)
Prelude & Feud on a 'G' Thang: Biggie vs Tupac
Pop is the Sound We Need Right Now (with Electric Guest)
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Good One: A Podcast About Jokes
The Vulture TV Podcast
Vulture Festival Podcast