The Life and Music of George Gershwin, Tuned In, Redcar

THERE was a decidedly gala occasion feel about this Classical Cleveland event organised by Peter and Sue Sotheran featuring the acclaimed pianist Viv McLean and narrator Susan Porrett.

Tuned In was looking good with interesting lighting, a wine bar and light classical music making a pleasant precursor to the performance. Significantly, there was a capacity audience to welcome McLean and Porrett in this very interesting combination of music and biography of the renowned American composer George Gershwin.

Porrett introduced the format of the evening with the first item – Someone to Watch Over Me. This set the standard – wistful, yet full of sweetness and colour, with McLean expressing the spirit of Gershwin’s style.

Each item was given a heading indicating stages in Gershwin’s musical development and popular success. It is a story of a man driven to produce music, both popular and classical, but always drawing on the musical styles and idioms of his native New York. This was a very effective combination of music and insight into the composer’s working ethos – using the richness of his social and urban environment.

It was the dawn of the jazz era which had been considered rather low and infra dig. Gershwin turned that judgement around and changed the perception of black American music by composing Rhapsody in Blue and the opera Porgy & Bess, from which Summertime is one of the most recorded songs of all time.

McLean provided a beautiful accompaniment to the biographical details presented. His always confident and flexible style being on this occasion subtly understated, allowed us to focus fully on Porrett’s narrative and then with equal enjoyment on McLean’s sensitive performance of Gershwin’s rich range of music. It was an unforgettable musical occasion.

The next Classical Cleveland event at Tuned In is on Wednesday, May 13, featuring Feixue Li on piano.

Irene MacDonald