Alexander Smallens

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• Daniel Barenboim
• Erich Kunzel

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  Leontyne Price "Bess, You is my Woman" Berlin 9/21/1952

  Very first recording voice's Leontyne Price September 21, 1952 Berlin, Titania Palast Gershwin' Porgy and Bess European Tour Everymen Opera Company Robert Breen Production Porgy - William Warfield, Bassbariton Bess - Leontyne Price, Sopran Sporting Life - Cab Calloway, Tenor Crown - John mccurry, Bariton Jake - Joseph James, Bariton Clara - Helen Colbert, Sopran Robbins - Howard Roberts, Tenor Serena - Helen Thigpen, Sopran Lily/Strawberry woman - Helen Dowdy Crab man - Ray Yeates Ruby - Maya Angelou The Eva Jessye Chorus RIAS-Unterhaltungsorchester Alexander Smallens, conductor

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  Helen Jepson/Anne Brown - Summer time from porgy&bess (Gershwin)

  A request. Here are two versions of the song Summer time from Gershwin's porgy&bess. The first is by Helen Jepson with orchestra conducted by Alexander Smallens, recorded for Victor in 1935. The second is by the role's originator recorded for Decca in 1940 with the same conductor. The story of the origins of this opera is well documented. It began as a novel written by Du Bose Heyward. It was produced as a play with a black cast in 1927 and ran for two years. Gershwin was familiar with the novel and began a several year association with Heyward to turn it into a modern opera. It took eight years with many trips by Gershwin to Charleston to work with Heyward and at the same time absorb local black culture. It finally premiered on September 30, 1935. Gershwin insisted on a black cast which included Todd Duncan and Anne Brown with Smallens conducting. Within just two weeks, Victor recorded excerpts on 4-12" discs. Amazingly, they did not use the original cast. Instead the records featured Lawrence Tibbett and Helen Jepson with Smallens conducting. Gershwin oversaw the recording and I don't know why he was unsuccessful in convincing Victor to use the theatrical cast. The set sold very well and was in the catalogue for many years. In 1940, Decca decided to do the right thing. They assembled the original cast along with Smallens again and issued a similar 4 disc set. It too sold very well. They subsequently issued a Volume 2 with additional material. Brown and Jepson actually ...

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