Forbes Classical CD Of The Week: America! From "Maryland, My Maryland" To John Cage

…Harmonia Mundi has re-packaged American (-themed) music into seven CD sets, revealingly titled “AMERICA!”, of which the first three with two discs each cover classical music. The volume dedicated entirely to Gerswhin (vol.2) is the most satisfying, musically, and never more fun than when Michael Sheppard dives headlong into Earl Wild’s rollicking Porgy & Bess Fantasy arrangement. Frank Braley has the solo piano hit song transcriptions covered, which are short, small, light, and lovely. In short: “‘s Wonderful!” Bertie Wooster would have played them all (just not as well) on his stays in the Metrop. Disc two takes us “From Broadway to the Concert Hall”, which includes the Rhapsody, of course, the superb Piano Concert in F, and more—again in very fine performances by Jon Nakamatsu and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.…

-> Classical CD Of The Week: America! From "Maryland, My Maryland" To John Cage

AMERICA!, Land of Refuge, Harmonia Mundi