Gershwin Piano Concerto (1) Oscar Levant & Arturo Toscanini - NBC (1944)

[unclejuniorsoprano]

This is not great Toscanini, but great Oscar Levant. Toscanini began this concerto as though he were draging in a circus elephant into the show. Oscar saves the show with his eloquent playing. This performance is a prime example where the pianist clearly out-performs the maestro from start to finish. Execpt for Levant's brilliant playing, I hate this rendition. You can't Italianize Gershwin! BRAVO LEVANT!

[GayPlaywright]

@unclejuniorsoprano agree 100%

[piesseesse]

@unclejuniorsoprano I disagree with you. Toscanini doesn't italianize Gershwin, but, if you want, europeanizes him. Gershwin would have been glad of this exegetic design... And there are many intense moments in which Gershwin sounds like Liszt or, better, Grieg. What is the problem? Gershwin loved very much european music!

[unclejuniorsoprano]

@piesseesse You are not completely wrong; just a little wrong. Every maestro has his specialty. Toscanini's was Verdi & Italian opera. Of course he did remarkably well w/LVB, Wagner, Ravel, etc., but when it came to American music, he knew nothing about its main ingredient, jazz, nor did he want to know. He was very obstinate. As folr Gershwin sounding like Liszt or Grieg, ?? You might even argue that Gershwin sounds Chinese for that matter. Listen to "I Got Rhythm" piano variations.

[piesseesse]

@unclejuniorsoprano Thank you for "just a little wrong" ... you are very kind!

[unclejuniorsoprano]

This recording never materialized during Levant's lifetime due to conflicting record contracts. Levant regretfully mentions this in one of his books. He tried to tell Toscanini how Gershwin wanted it to be performed, but Toscanini replied that Gershwin was "a-sick a-sick..." I like Levant's other recording over this. Toscanini seems to hold a tight rein on Levant who appears to be chomping at the bit, rearing to take off. Listen to the tympani beats. They drag. At 7:50 Levant is held back.

[MmeFigaro]

what a great musical moment... Thanks for sharing it!

[sallyrob101]

This was an incredible teaming of the very talented pianist Oscar Levant, who was a close personal friend of George Gershwin, and the brilliant conductor Arturo Toscanini. The Maestro actually heard Levant and Gershwin play a duet of the four-hand version of Gershwin's "Second Rhapsody" in 1931. Eventually, when Toscanini felt comfortable enough with Gershwin's music to conduct the "Concerto in F" he invited Levant to join him for this remarkable performance.

[goodmanmusica]

@sallyrob101

Toscanini also conducted and record the Rapsody in blue and An American in Paris.