Israeli Pianist Tells Story of How Jacob Gershowitz (George Gershwin) Wrote Rhapsody in Blue

Israeli pianist, narrator, and musicologist Astrith Baltsan, Israel's most popular classical performer, tells about how Jacob Gershowitz was a poor student in school, how he was inspired by music of many cultures, and how he became George Gershwin, the most famous American composer of all time. 

Sitting at the piano with the full Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, she explains how he was able to integrate Black man's blues, White man's restlessness, and the energy of the big city filled with people trying to get ahead and reach the skyscrapers, all in one piece of music -- Rhapsody in Blue. Baltsan illustrates Gershwin's achievement by playing the one minute finale.

If you want to take the time to enjoy an energetic, uplifting performance of the full 20 minute piece, we're including a version taped in 2010 by the Symphony Orchestra of the Bulgarian National Radio, with Andrew Armstrong at the Piano and Maxim Eshkenazy conducting. Enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)