V. Gryaznov. Rhapsody "Porgy and Bess" for Piano and Orchestra. To the memory of N. Petrov

First live performance (25.10.2011, Nijniy Novgorod city).
Conservatory student orchestra, Eugeny Sheiko, conductor.

About the Rhapsody
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Two-Piano version of this Rhapsody was written for the famous piano duo Nikolay PETROV and Alexander GHINDIN. But N. Petrov had a stroke a couple weeks before the premiere at Tchaikovsky Hall in Moscow and died 2 months later...
He took very active part in process of creating the Rhapsody, called me almost every week wondering how it was going on, asked about performance details, urged and encouraged me..
His death was a real shock for me. The only thing that I could do was to dedicate the Rhapsody to His Memory.
I made an orchestration this summer. Now the Rhapsody has two versions:
for Piano and Orchestra like a piano concerto, and version for Piano Duo.
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My conception of the Rhapsody was to create a solid piece with its own subject and sense. Gershwin's opera ends on Porgy left for New York for his Bess. But it's unclear if he could ever get there. However, let's imagine that he could. What would happen then? My Rhapsody invites to think about this.
It is about a man with disabled body but healthy soul; about his dream, his belief, his way to his goal. It is about a beautiful woman with beautiful but torn by passions soul, suffering from her weakness. It is about the end of her splitting, the end of his dreams. But...The final conclusion is up to performers and listeners.
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The Rhapsody has 3 parts:
I. Day in New York. Porgy (Introduction, 1st Piano cadenza, Porgy's Story, Final)
II. Bess. Night (Recitative, Variations)
III. Bess and Porgy (2nd Piano cadenza - Bess & Porgy's Duet, Epilogue)
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This is my first expirience in such a kind of transcription. This is not completely my music of course, but not only Gershwin's music too.
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The orchestral score, Two-Piano score and recordings are here:
http://gryaznoff.com/blog/transcriptions/porgy-bess-rhapsody

Category:

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[noahgian]

Wonderful, I truly enjoyed this piece (as I do all your transcriptions/compositions!). You should come play this in the U.S., it will be instantly popular!

[jefftam1234]

Thank you Mr. Gryaznov.

Mr. Petrov is one of my favorite pianist of all time too. This is a wonderful tribute to the legend.

All your transcription and composition are all so wonderful. Please don't ever stop performing/composing. Your channel is one of my favorite thing on youtube.

I am learning your Italian Polka transcription for one of my recital as well. Thank you so much for the music.