Gershwin: Concerto in F – Cuban Overture - "i Got Rhythm" Variations (2xLP, 45RPM, Analogue Productions, RCA Living Stereo)

Earl Wild, Arthur Fiedler & The Boston Pops' Gershwin: Concerto in F - Cuban Overture - "I Got Rhythm" Variations brings together three sharply complementary Gershwin interpreters in a recording long associated with RCA Living Stereo’s orchestral catalogue. The heart of it is Gershwin’s Concerto in F, where Wild treats the score not as crossover showpiece but as fully worked concert music, while Fiedler and the Boston Pops keep its jazz inflection, rhythmic lift, and symphonic shape in balance.

That combination makes this program especially appealing. Wild’s playing is consistently quick-witted and commanding, moving from the concerto’s swagger to the snap of the I Got Rhythm Variations and the sultry colour of Cuban Overture. Fiedler’s accompaniment matters just as much: he gives the music polish and momentum without smoothing away its American sparkle. For anyone interested in how Gershwin sits between the concert hall and popular song, this set makes the case clearly.

This Analogue Productions edition also explains why the album remains collectible. It is part of the RCA Living Stereo 45RPM series, remastered from the original master tape by Bernie Grundman and pressed at Quality Record Pressings, with the original program spread across two LPs for this audiophile reissue. If you come to Gershwin for virtuoso piano, orchestral colour, or classic Living Stereo sound, this is an easy record to recommend.

Features

• 2xLP, 45RPM, 180g, Stereo, Analogue Productions RCA Living Stereo
• Remastered from the original master tape by Bernie Grundman
• Pressed at Quality Record Pressings
• Includes 2-panel insert

Genre: Classical