Gershwin, Kern, Porter: Overtures; Film Music (2006)

About this title: The contents of this budget double CD make collective sense: overtures by George Gershwin, Cole Porter, and Jerome Kern, while not really well known in themselves, contain lots of familiar tunes and offer intriguing comparisons among the three great musical composers who would be hard to compress into any other listening experience. The performances are by a variety of British orchestras that have plenty of experience with light American-inflected theater music; all are conducted by John McGlinn, who also helmed Kiri Te Kanawa's successful Gershwin disc. One notices how much jazzier Gershwin ... read more

Tracks:

1. A Damsel in Distress, film score: Suite from the film
2. Girl Crazy, musical: Overture
3. Of Thee I Sing, musical: Overture
4. Tip-Toes, musical: Overture
5. Primrose, musical: Overture
6. Stiff Upper Lip (sequence from A Damsel in Distress, film): Funhouse sequence from 'A Damsel In Distress'
7. Oh, Kay!, musical: Overture
8. Anything Goes, musical play: Overture
9. Can-Can, musical: Overture
10. Kiss Me Kate, musical: Overture
11. Gay Divorce, musical: Overture
12. Night and day, song (from "Gay Divorce")
13. The Cat and the Fiddle, musical in 2 acts: Overture
14. The Girl From Utah, items (10) from the musical play by S.Jones: Overture
15. Leave It to Jane, musical in 2 acts: Overture
16. Have a Heart, musical in 2 acts: Overture
17. Sweet Adeline, musical romance in 2 acts: Overture
18. Oh Lady! Lady!, musical in 2 acts: Overture
19. Sitting Pretty, musical in 2 acts: Overture
20. Very Warm for May, musical in 2 acts: Overture
21. Swing Time, film music: I. Main Title / Pick Yourself Up
22. Swing Time, film music: II. The Way You Look Tonight
23. Swing Time, film music: III. Waltz in Swing Time
24. Swing Time, film music: IV. Never Gonna Dance
25. Swing Time, film music: V. Bojangles of Harlem
26. Show Boat, musical in 2 acts: Overture

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.