Anne Brown "Summertime" from Original Porgy and Bess (1940)

"Introduction" and "Summertime"
From the Opera, "Porgy and Bess"
Music by George Gershwin
Lyrics by Du Bose Heyward and Ira Gershwin
Featuring Anne Brown, soprano
Accompanied by the Decca Symphony Orchestra
Directed by Alexander Smallens
Recorded May 15, 1940
Decca 29067A

George Gershwin's "American Folk Opera" Porgy and Bess opened on Broadway on October 10, 1935, in the middle of the Great Depression and closed after only 124 performances on January 25, 1936. In May 1940, Decca Records assembled some of the members of the original cast, including Todd Duncan and Anne Brown, who had played the title characters, for a recording session that produced a 78 rpm album of selections from the score.

Anne Wiggins Brown (born Annie Wiggins Brown August 9, 1912 - died March 13, 2009) was an African American soprano who created the role of "Bess" in the original production of George Gershwin's folk opera Porgy and Bess in 1935. She was also a radio and concert singer. She settled in Norway in her 30's and later became a Norwegian citizen.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Anne Brown
• Summertime
• 1940
• George Gershwin
• Du Bose Heyward
• Ira Gershwin
• Porgy and Bess
• Original cast
• folk
• opera
• Broadway
• 78rpm
• original
• sound
• track

[ruenrom0878]

Just a note though that in the actual P&B opera 'Summertime' is not sung by 'Bess' but by the 'Clara' character.

[bsgs98]

@ruenrom0878 You are basically correct. This Decca album featured Anne Brown and Todd Duncan who sang all the solo parts including ones that were attributed to other characters. However Bess does sing a reprise of "Summertime" in Act 3 following the death of Clara.

[hremdldw]

Found out what it was by going to Wikipedia It was in the movie Rhapsody In Blue. Alan Alda Dad, Robert staring as George Gershwin. In the movie their were musical interludes Ann Brown sang Summertime.Thanks for responding so quickly bsg98

[bsgs98]

@hremdldw I'm glad you found the information you were looking for. It's a shame that Anne Brown's clip from Rhapsody in Blue isn't available on YT.

[hremdldw]

I saw a movie once with Ann Brown singing Summertime it might have been the movie with William Powell playing Florenz Ziegfeld I know it wasn't the Great Ziegfeld but another movie were Ziegfeld was dead and he was thinking of putting a dream show together.Can anyone remember what movie that was?

[bsgs98]

@hremdldw The Wiliam Powell film was "Ziefeld Follies" (MGM 1945) but Anne brown was not in the cast. Perhaps you are thinking of Lena Horne who did sing a song in the film.

[mushikumo]

Doing this song for my voice lessons. Someday I will hit that B5.

[sarahward94]

Love it when the backing singers come in and start 'ooing', gives me goosebumps everytime!

[fabfourgroupie]

AMAZING



[funguykel]

Anne Brown's clip from Rhapsody in Blue was at one time available on YT. I watched it a number of times. Why it was pulled is beyond me. Anne was beautiful and a great singer. She was born before her time but luckily had one of broadway's greatest roles.

[hremdldw]

Every now and then Turner Classic Movies shows Rhapsody In Blue,I just forgot were I saw Ann Brown. Now that I'm writing this down I remember seeing Ann Brown on a PBS special on Gershwin which had the Rhapsody In Blue clip in it.