Alexander Frey marked his return to Gaulitana: A Festival of Music as artist-in-residence in style with the lecture-recital entitled “Gershwin: the man and his music”.
The versatile US organist-pianist-conductor – himself a connoisseur of people who had collaborated with George Gershwin – presented a most insightful talk about the great American composer. Amongst others, he traced Gershwin’s upbringing and family life, his musical beginnings at Broadway, his Parisian sojourn, his ‘exile’ in Hollywood, the ‘scandal’ caused by his operatic masterpiece “Porgy and Bess” and its strong social implications, his rapport with fellow composers such as Ravel and Schoenberg, and his intimate collaboration with his brother, the lyricist Ira. Frey demonstrated extensively on the piano, also playing works by Gershwin. Very interesting and rare was the footage shown – whether of Gershwin himself, his contemporaries, or of Frey himself conducting works by Gershwin.
Held on Monday 21st March at the Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz, the event marked the 75th anniversary from the death of Gerswhin.
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