''Highlights from Porgy and Bess'', the 1935 album of

George Gershwin George Gershwin (; born Jacob Gershwine; September 26, 1898 – July 11, 1937) was an American composer and pianist whose compositions spanned popular, jazz and classical genres. Among his best-known works are the orchestral compositions ' ...

's opera, was recorded just days after ''

Porgy and Bess ''Porgy and Bess'' () is an English-language opera by American composer George Gershwin, with a libretto written by author DuBose Heyward and lyricist Ira Gershwin. It was adapted from Dorothy Heyward and DuBose Heyward's play '' Porgy'', itse ...

'' opened on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

on October 10, 1935. While the opera was performed by an all-

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

singing cast, the 1935 album featured mostly white

opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a librett ...

singers. Gershwin's involvement is clearly stated on the album cover, which reads "Recorded under the supervision of the composer." The recordings originally came on 4 twelve-inch 78 rpm shellac records.

RCA Victor RCA Records is an American record label currently owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America. It is one of Sony Music's four flagship labels, alongside RCA's former long-time rival Columbia Records; also Aris ...

assigned the publishing numbers 11878 Victor, 11879 Victor, 11880 Victor and 11881 Victor to the records.

Cast

Lawrence Tibbett Lawrence Mervil Tibbett (November 16, 1896 – July 15, 1960) was an American opera singer and recording artist who also performed as a film actor and radio personality. A baritone, he sang leading roles with the Metropolitan Opera in New York ...

(Porgy) *

Helen Jepson Helen Jepson (November 28, 1904 – September 16, 1997) was an American lyric soprano. Early years Jepson was born in Titusville, Pennsylvania, on November 28, 1904, (Two sources give her birthday as November 28, 1906.) DeLong, Thomas A. (199 ...

(Bess) *

Alexander Smallens Alexander Smallens (January 1, 1889 – November 24, 1972) was a Russian Empire-born American conductor and music director. Biography Smallens was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia, and emigrated to the United States as a child, becoming an ...

, conductor *

Nathaniel Shilkret Nathaniel Shilkret (December 25, 1889 – February 18, 1982) was an American musician, composer, conductor and musical director. Early career Shilkret (originally named Natan Schüldkraut) was born in New York City, United States, to parents ...

, conductor (for "My Man's Gone Now")

Track listing

#"It Ain't Necessarily So" (Act 2), Victor 11878-A #"The Buzzard Song" (Act 2) Victor 11878-B #(1) Scene: "Summertime" and Crap Game, (2) A Woman is a Sometime Thing (Act 1), Victor 11879-A #"Bess, You Is A Woman Now" (Act 1), Victor 11879-B #"I Got Plenty o' Nuttin" (Act 2), Victor 11880-A #"Where is my Bess" (Act 3), Victor 11880-B #Lullaby:"Summertime and the Livin' is Easy" (Act 1), Victor 11881-A #"My Man's Gone Now" (Act 1), Victor 11881-B

Re-releases

Parts of this recording have been re-issued by various recording companies on

compact disc The compact disc (CD) is a Digital media, digital optical disc data storage format that was co-developed by Philips and Sony to store and play digital audio recordings. In August 1982, the first compact disc was manufactured. It was then rele ...

. *''Lawrence Tibbett: From Broadway to Hollywood'',

Nimbus Records Nimbus Records is a British record company based at Wyastone Leys, Ganarew, Herefordshire. They specialise in classical music recordings and were the first company in the UK to produce compact discs. Description Nimbus was founded in 1972 by t ...

, UPC 71035778812

*''Porgy and Bess (Original Cast Recordings) (1935-1942)'',

Naxos Records Naxos comprises numerous companies, divisions, imprints, and labels specializing in classical music but also audiobooks and other genres. The premier label is Naxos Records which focuses on classical music. Naxos Musical Group encompasses about 1 ...

, 8.110219-2

{{DEFAULTSORT:Porgy and Bess, Highlights from RCA Victor albums 1930s classical albums Albums conducted by Alexander Smallens Albums conducted by Nathaniel Shilkret 1935 albums

Highlights from Porgy and Bess ''Highlights from Porgy and Bess'', the 1935 album of George Gershwin's opera, was recorded just days after ''Porgy and Bess'' opened on Broadway on October 10, 1935. While the opera was performed by an all-African American singing cast, the 1935 ...