In 1923, bandleader Paul Whiteman wanted to turn the American dance band into something a bit more prestigious, or, as Paul Osgood the author of 1926's ‘So This is Jazz’ put it, make "an honest woman out of jazz." So Whiteman invited Gershwin to perform at his ‘Experiment in Modern Music’ show, and his concerto became the star of the evening.
Gershwin conceived the concerto while on a train to Boston. At the beginning of 1924 he said,
"I had already done some work on the rhapsody. It was on the train, with its steely rhythms, its rattle-ty bang that is often so stimulating for a composer."
And so, this duet brings these two ideas together.
We see a man as he sits on a train, tapping his feet to the irresistible rhythm of the jazz in his soul, but restricted by convention...that is, until he is joined by the Lady of Jazz.
Choreography: Paul Chantry & Rae Piper
Lighting: Owain Davies
Gershwin conceived the concerto while on a train to Boston. At the beginning of 1924 he said,
"I had already done some work on the rhapsody. It was on the train, with its steely rhythms, its rattle-ty bang that is often so stimulating for a composer."
And so, this duet brings these two ideas together.
We see a man as he sits on a train, tapping his feet to the irresistible rhythm of the jazz in his soul, but restricted by convention...that is, until he is joined by the Lady of Jazz.
Choreography: Paul Chantry & Rae Piper
Lighting: Owain Davies
Video
Rhapsody in Blue Trailer from JDA Media on Vimeo.
Rhapsody in Blue from JDA Media on Vimeo.
'Rhapsody in Blue' Photo Gallery
Reviews
- "The stand out piece for me was their (CDC's) working of 'Rhapsody in Blue', which was funny, sharp and delicious with a spot on comedic performance by Paul Chantry." (Clare Hannan, former Duty Manager, Theatre Royal, Drury Lane)
- "I was particularly struck by the Rhapsody in Blue, which I thought was brilliant." (Douglas Hollick, audience member)
