George Gershwin wrote much of his “Second Rhapsody” for the 1931 film "Delicious". Unfortunately, sound recording was in its infancy, and much of the score was mixed with loud sound effects that obscured it. Here is how the film might have sounded had the score been better recorded. Janet Gaynor stars with Raul Roulien.
John Mauceri conducts Wayne Marshall and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. The solo piano sections at the start are by Jack Gibbons.
From "George Gershwin: His Life and Work" by Howard Pollack:
The "New York Rhapsody" proved a novelty by Hollywood standards: composed months prior to the actual filming, it provided the music around which a cinematic episode would take shape (thereby also giving the composer time to orchestrate the music); and it constituted a work so self-contained that it could be adapted for concert purposes, which Gershwin did under various working titles, including "New York Rhapsody"', "Manhattan Rhapsody", "Rhapsody in Rivets", and finally "Second Rhapsody". However, the filmmakers ultimately cut the piece from about 15 minutes to about seven minutes in length. Moreover, fearful that "the music would be distracting to the action," the studio shrouded the piece by recording the work with the piano at the rear of the orchestra, and by overdubbing prominent sound effects.
11 ноя 2019
