My first encounter with Rhapsody in Blue was aged about 9 or 10 at a Saturday movie matinee in the Boomerang Theatre at Coogee Beach in Sydney. On that day in the mid ’50′s the 1945 movie ‘Rhapsody in Blue’, about the life of George Gerswhin starring, among many other great actors, popular pianist Oscar Levant, was second feature to the latest fashionable offering my much older sister and her current beau had gone to see.
My mother made my sister take me along, but my role to annoy them both was forgotten once Levant, an accomplished musician and friend of Gershwin playing himself, started tinkling the ivories dazzling everyone with his virtuoso keyboard skills. The silence was deafening when the actor playing Gershwin, Robert Alda, performed the title music (dubbed by Levant). It certainly made a powerful impression on the formulation of my musical preferences.
‘Rhapsody in Blue” also ‘brought the house down’ during its premier playing in New York City in 1924 and within three years sold a million copies, an amazing feat for that time. People still argue whether or not it is jazz but that wailing clarinet glissando opening sure does it for me.
It was apparently, one of those special moments when, during rehearsal for its premier in New York that creative clarinetist Ross Goram rendered the upper portion of the scale as a captivating joyous trill. Gershwin overheard it and insisted it remain for the performance. This innovative glide from one pitch to another to open the piece has become a familiar tradition people now eagerly await, especially when it is performed by an accomplished and well known clarinetist.
Rhapsody in Blue had been commissioned from Gershwin and like all great composers he recalled that there was an inspiring moment when he heard the tune in his head and began to write. Gerswhin said “It was on the train, with its steely rhythms, its rattle-ty bang, that is so often so stimulating to a composer..I heard it as a sort of musical kaleidoscope of America, of our vast melting pot, of our unduplicated national pep, of our blues, our metropolitan madness. By the time I reached Boston I had a definite plot of the piece, as distinguished from its actual substance”.
Rhapsody in Blue has had an extraordinary history as a piece of music featuring in the most diverse and exciting range of arenas from classical to cult including the 1984 Olympics, when dozens of keyboard players played it during the opening event. More recently it featured in an episode of the pop cult classic Doctor Who: Daleks in Manhatten ! And, since it was written it has inspired countless artists and musicians to extend their vision.
Lucas Parklands at Montville in Brisbane has been presenting some really marvelous musicians and singers for some time now. Their concert venue is nestled in Hinterland rainforest at Montville where their guests enjoy world class artists performing in a unique environment.
The beautiful “Flame Mahogany” Steinway grand piano delights both pianist and guests. It will certainly be on fire when award winning pianist Evgeny Ukhanov plays his rendition of The Rhapsody in Blue on Sunday 23rd May at 3pm on a program that also includes Beethoven’s Sonata No 31 (Op 110), The Moonlight Sonata and Schumann’s Fantasie.
Evgeny Ukhanov
From the age of 11, Evgeny Ukhanov has given solo concerts in Romania, Ukraine, France, England, Japan, Germany and the USA. He came to Australia on a music scholarship in 1998 and has featured regularly with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Sinfonia Orchestra, Sydney Youth Orchestra and the SBS Radio & Television Orchestra.
He is a major prize winner of many international piano competitions and has appeared on ABC television, ABC Classic FM and 2MBS FM. Evgeny has given special performances for dignitaries including the German Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and the Governors of Queensland and New South Wales. His last performance at the Sydney Opera House was sold out.
You will have to be quick to apply for tickets.
Contact Ian and Lee Lucas, Lucas Parklands,
126 Narrows Rd, MONTVILLE, QLD, 4560
Phone (07) 5478 5667
Email lucasparklands@bigpond.com
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