Biography (read more)

George Gershwin was an American composer born in Brooklyn, New York in 1898, who began his career on Tin Pan Alley and Broadway before moving to Hollywood later in life. His output fused jazz idioms with classical forms across orchestral works, Broadway musicals, piano concertos, and film scores, and includes Rhapsody in Blue, An American in Paris, and the opera Porgy and Bess. He died in Los Angeles in 1937, aged 38, following emergency surgery for a brain tumor.

Gershwin pioneered a distinctly American compositional voice by splicing jazz rhythms and popular song idioms with classical structures, profoundly shaping the course of American concert and popular music. His works remain central to the American repertoire, and his enduring stature is reflected in institutions such as the Library of Congress’s Gershwin Prize, awarded annually in his and his brother Ira’s honor.

Compare recordings piece by piece — 2 works of George Gershwin with more than one performance on the site →

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Repertoire

Piano Concerto in F: III. Allegro agitato
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The Man I love (For Violin & String Orchestra)
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Summertime (from Porgy and Bess)
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Rhapsody in Blue1924
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Performed by Denis Matsuev

Three Preludes: No. 3 in E-flat minor, Allegro ben ritmato e deciso1926
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Performed by Lang Lang

Piano Concerto in F Major: I. Allegro— Leonard Pennario
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Performed by Leonard Pennario

Piano Concerto in F Major: II. Adagio— Leonard Pennario
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Performed by Leonard Pennario

Piano Concerto in F Major: III. Allegro agitato— Leonard Pennario
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Performed by Leonard Pennario

Piano Concerto in F Major: I. Allegro (Remastered 2025)— Sergio Fiorentino
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Performed by Sergio Fiorentino

Piano Concerto in F Major: II. Adagio – Andante con moto (Remastered 2025)— Sergio Fiorentino
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Performed by Sergio Fiorentino

Piano Concerto in F Major: III. Allegro agitato (Remastered 2025)— Sergio Fiorentino
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Performed by Sergio Fiorentino

Piano Concerto in F Major: I. Allegro— André Previn
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Performed by André Previn

Piano Concerto in F Major: II. Adagio – andante con moto— André Previn
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Performed by André Previn

Piano Concerto in F Major: III. Allegro agitato— André Previn
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Performed by André Previn

Piano Concerto in F Major: II. Andante con motto— André Previn
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Performed by André Previn

Piano Concerto in F Major: I. Allegro moderato – Cantabile – Poco meno scherzando— André Previn
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Performed by André Previn

Piano Concerto in F Major: II. Andante con moto— André Previn
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Performed by André Previn

Piano Concerto in F Major: III. Allegro con brio— André Previn
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Performed by André Previn

Piano Concerto in F Major: I. Allegro— Howard Shelley
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Performed by Howard Shelley

Piano Concerto in F Major: II. Adagio – Andante con moto— Howard Shelley
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Performed by Howard Shelley

Piano Concerto in F Major: III. Allegro agitato— Howard Shelley
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Performed by Howard Shelley

Piano Concerto in F Major: I. Allegro— Hélène Grimaud
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Performed by Hélène Grimaud

Piano Concerto in F Major: II. Andante con motto— Hélène Grimaud
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Performed by Hélène Grimaud

Piano Concerto in F Major: III. Allegro agitato— Hélène Grimaud
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Performed by Hélène Grimaud

Catfish Row: I. Catfish Row— Jos Van Immerseel
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Performed by Jos Van Immerseel

Catfish Row: II. Porgy Sings— Jos Van Immerseel
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Performed by Jos Van Immerseel

Catfish Row: III. Fugue— Jos Van Immerseel
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Performed by Jos Van Immerseel

Catfish Row: IV. Hurricane— Jos Van Immerseel
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Performed by Jos Van Immerseel

Catfish Row: V. Good Mornin’ Sistuh!— Jos Van Immerseel
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Performed by Jos Van Immerseel

Catfish Row: I. Catfish Row— Howard Shelley
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Performed by Howard Shelley

Catfish Row: II. Porgy Sings— Howard Shelley
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Performed by Howard Shelley

Catfish Row: III. Fugue— Howard Shelley
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Performed by Howard Shelley

Catfish Row: IV. Hurricane— Howard Shelley
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Performed by Howard Shelley

Catfish Row: V. Good Mornin’, Sistuh— Howard Shelley
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Performed by Howard Shelley

Gershwin: Rhapsody In Blue— Leonard Pennario
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Performed by Leonard Pennario

Rhapsody in Blue— Leonard Pennario
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Performed by Leonard Pennario

Rhapsody in Blue— Byron Janis
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Performed by Byron Janis

Rhapsody in Blue— Jos Van Immerseel
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Performed by Jos Van Immerseel

Rhapsody in Blue— André Previn
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Performed by André Previn

Rhapsody in Blue— Howard Shelley
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Performed by Howard Shelley

Rhapsody in Blue— Aleksander Dębicz
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Performed by Aleksander Dębicz

Rhapsody in Blue— Alain Lefèvre
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Performed by Alain Lefèvre

An American In Paris— Leonard Pennario
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Performed by Leonard Pennario

An American in Paris— Jos Van Immerseel
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Performed by Jos Van Immerseel

Gershwin: An American in Paris— Garrick Ohlsson
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Performed by Garrick Ohlsson

An American in Paris— André Previn
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Performed by André Previn

Gershwin: An American in Paris: I. Allegretto grazioso— André Previn
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Performed by André Previn

Gershwin: An American in Paris: II. Andante ma con ritmo deciso— André Previn
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Performed by André Previn

An American in Paris— Howard Shelley
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Performed by Howard Shelley

An American in Paris— Thomas Hampson
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Performed by Thomas Hampson

An American in Paris— Alain Lefèvre
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Performed by Alain Lefèvre

Gershwin: Piano Concerto: I. Allegro— André Previn
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Performed by André Previn

Gershwin: Piano Concerto: II. Adagio— André Previn
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Performed by André Previn

Gershwin: Piano Concerto: III. Allegro agitato— André Previn
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Performed by André Previn

Gershwin: Piano Concerto: I. Allegro— Daniil Trifonov
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Performed by Daniil Trifonov

Gershwin: Piano Concerto: II. Adagio— Daniil Trifonov
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Performed by Daniil Trifonov

Gershwin: Piano Concerto: III. Allegro agitato— Daniil Trifonov
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Performed by Daniil Trifonov

Rhapsody in Blue (Orch. Grofé)— Garrick Ohlsson
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Performed by Garrick Ohlsson

Rhapsody in Blue (Orch. Grofé)— André Previn
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Performed by André Previn

Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue (Orch. Grofé)— André Previn
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Performed by André Previn

3 Preludes, IGG 25: I. Allegro ben ritmato e deciso (Remastered)— Leonard Pennario
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Performed by Leonard Pennario

3 Preludes, IGG 25: II. Andante con moto e poco rubato (Remastered)— Leonard Pennario
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Performed by Leonard Pennario

3 Preludes, IGG 25: III. Allegro ben ritmato e deciso (Remastered)— Leonard Pennario
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Performed by Leonard Pennario

Rhapsody in Blue (Orchestrated by Ferde Grofé)— Leonard Pennario
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Performed by Leonard Pennario

Rhapsody in Blue (Orchestrated by Ferde Grofé)— Byron Janis
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Performed by Byron Janis

Second Rhapsody— Leonard Pennario
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Performed by Leonard Pennario

Second Rhapsody— Howard Shelley
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Performed by Howard Shelley

Summertime— Jos Van Immerseel
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Performed by Jos Van Immerseel

Summertime— John Stowell
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Performed by John Stowell

The Man I Love— Jos Van Immerseel
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Performed by Jos Van Immerseel

The Man I Love (Remastered)— André Previn
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Performed by André Previn

Gershwin: Porgy and Bess: Summertime— André Previn
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Performed by André Previn

Gershwin: Porgy and Bess: Summertime— Kathleen Battle
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Performed by Kathleen Battle

Three Preludes: II. Andante con moto e poco rubato (Arr. for Cello and Piano)— Yo-Yo Ma
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Performed by Yo-Yo Ma

Three Preludes: I. Allegro ben ritmato e deciso— Yo-Yo Ma
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Performed by Yo-Yo Ma

3 Preludes: No. 1 in B-Flat Major, Allegro ben ritmato e deciso— Leonard Pennario
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Performed by Leonard Pennario

3 Preludes: No. 2 in C-Sharp Minor, Andante con moto e poco rubato— Leonard Pennario
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Performed by Leonard Pennario

3 Preludes: No. 3 in E-Flat Minor, Allegro ben ritmato e deciso— Leonard Pennario
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Performed by Leonard Pennario

Cuban Overture (Arranged for Piano and Orchestra By Greig McRitchie)— Leonard Pennario
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Performed by Leonard Pennario

Deuxième rapsodie— Leonard Pennario
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Performed by Leonard Pennario

Gershwin: Ballet From “Primose”— Leonard Pennario
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Performed by Leonard Pennario

Gershwin: Merry-Andrew— Leonard Pennario
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Performed by Leonard Pennario

Gershwin: No. 1 In B Flat— Leonard Pennario
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Performed by Leonard Pennario

Gershwin: No. 2 In C Sharp Minor— Leonard Pennario
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Performed by Leonard Pennario

Gershwin: No. 3 In E Flat Minor— Leonard Pennario
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Performed by Leonard Pennario

Gershwin: Promenade (Walking The Dog) From “Shall We Dance”— Leonard Pennario
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Performed by Leonard Pennario

Gershwin: Rialto Ripples— Leonard Pennario
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Performed by Leonard Pennario

Gershwin: Three-Quarter Blues— Leonard Pennario
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Performed by Leonard Pennario

Gershwin: Two Waltzes In C— Leonard Pennario
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Performed by Leonard Pennario

I. Allegro moderato – Cantabile – Poco meno scherzando— Leonard Pennario
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Performed by Leonard Pennario

II. Andante con moto— Leonard Pennario
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Performed by Leonard Pennario

III. Allegro con brio— Leonard Pennario
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Performed by Leonard Pennario

Ouverture cubaine (Arr. for Piano and Orchestra by Greig McRitchie)— Leonard Pennario
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Performed by Leonard Pennario

Piano Concerto in F major (Studio Rec)— Leonard Pennario
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Performed by Leonard Pennario

Porgy And Bess – A Symphonic Picture— Leonard Pennario
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Performed by Leonard Pennario

Porgy and Bess Potpourri— Leonard Pennario
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Performed by Leonard Pennario

Pot-pourri sur Porgy and Bess— Leonard Pennario
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Performed by Leonard Pennario

Rhapsody in Blue (Extract, Orchestrated by Ferde Grofé)— Leonard Pennario
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Performed by Leonard Pennario

Rhapsody in Blue, Pt. 1 (Orch. by Ferde Grofé)— Leonard Pennario
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Performed by Leonard Pennario

Rhapsody in Blue, Pt. 2 (Orch. by Ferde Grofé)— Leonard Pennario
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Performed by Leonard Pennario

Rhapsody No. 2 for Piano and Orchestra (Arranged By Greig McRitchie)— Leonard Pennario
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Performed by Leonard Pennario

Three Preludes: No. 2 in C-Sharp Minor— Leonard Pennario
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Performed by Leonard Pennario

Variations On “I Got Rhythm”— Leonard Pennario
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Performed by Leonard Pennario

Variations sur I Got Rhythm— Leonard Pennario
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Performed by Leonard Pennario

Cuban Overture— Leonard Pennario
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Performed by Leonard Pennario

By Strauss— Jos Van Immerseel
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Performed by Jos Van Immerseel

My Man Is Gone Now— Jos Van Immerseel
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Performed by Jos Van Immerseel

I Got Rhythm— Jos Van Immerseel
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Performed by Jos Van Immerseel

The Man I Love (feat. Dinah Shore)— André Previn
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Performed by André Previn

My Ship— André Previn
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Performed by André Previn

Gershwin: Porgy and Bess, Act II: I loves you, Porgy— André Previn
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Performed by André Previn

That Certain Feeling (Rerecorded)— André Previn
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Performed by André Previn

But Not For Me (Remastered)— André Previn
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Performed by André Previn

Love Is Here To Stay (Remastered)— André Previn
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Performed by André Previn

The Man I Love (Arr. for Piano by George Gershwin)— Cyprien Katsaris
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Performed by Cyprien Katsaris

Songbook: No. 7, Liza (Arr. for Piano)— Cyprien Katsaris
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Performed by Cyprien Katsaris

They All Laughed (Version for Voice and Fender Rhodes)— Cyprien Katsaris
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Performed by Cyprien Katsaris

Girl Crazy Overture (Arr. for Orchestra by Don Rose)— Howard Shelley
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Performed by Howard Shelley

I Got Rhythm: Variations— Howard Shelley
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Performed by Howard Shelley

Strike up the Band Overture (Arr. for Orchestra by Don Rose)— Howard Shelley
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Performed by Howard Shelley

Рапсодия в стиле блюз Д. Гершвина с каденциями Д. Мацуева | D. Matsuev. Rhapsody in Blue— Denis Matsuev
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Performed by Denis Matsuev

“I Loves You, Porgy” (from Porgy & Bess)— Lucienne Renaudin Vary
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Performed by Lucienne Renaudin Vary

Élou— Alain Lefèvre
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Performed by Alain Lefèvre

Concerto In F: II. Adagio, Andante Con Moto (Gershwin)— Alain Lefèvre
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Performed by Alain Lefèvre

Gershwin, I. Gershwin: It Ain’t Necessarily So (From Porgy And Bess/Trans. Jascha Heifetz)— Sarah Chang
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Performed by Sarah Chang

Gershwin: Porgy and Bess, Act I: Summertime— Renée Fleming
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Performed by Renée Fleming

Gershwin: Porgy and Bess / Act 1: “My man’s gone now”— Renée Fleming
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Performed by Renée Fleming

Gershwin: Porgy and Bess, Act I: My Man’s Gone Now (Live at Piazza Grande, Modena, 1993)— Luciano Pavarotti
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Performed by Luciano Pavarotti

Gershwin: Porgy and Bess, Act I: Summertime (Live at Piazza Grande, Modena, 1993)— Luciano Pavarotti
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Performed by Luciano Pavarotti

Our Love Is Here To Stay— Gregory Kunde
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Performed by Gregory Kunde

Prelude No. 1 (From “Three Preludes”)— Yo-Yo Ma
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Performed by Yo-Yo Ma

Prelude No. 1 (Gershwin) – Commentary— Yo-Yo Ma
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Performed by Yo-Yo Ma

Our Love Is Here To Stay (from An American In ParisFilm The Goldwyn Follies)— Plácido Domingo
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Performed by Plácido Domingo

Summertime (arr. Ebe Ken-ichi)— Jacob Cordover
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Performed by Jacob Cordover

Three Preludes— Luca Pianca
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Performed by Luca Pianca

Prelude III— Luca Pianca
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Performed by Luca Pianca

Summertime— Lars Hannibal
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Performed by Lars Hannibal