George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue uniquely describes the American spirit of the 1920s. Gershwin was one of the first composers who combined Jazz and classical music.
Rhapsody in Blue has earned worldwide renown since its world premiere in 1924, when Gershwin himself sat at the piano and impressed the audience with his innovative work. The conductor Paul Whiteman, who led this premiere, called the first performance of it an “Experiment in Modern Music.” The piece shows both melodic and rhythmic inventiveness, as well as a perfect handling of all technical parameters. This “Symphonic Jazz” diverges from the usual formal patterns and was exceptional in its time.