George Gershwin

Maurice Ravel, at the piano, in New York City for a birthday celebration on March 7, 1928. Pictured with him (left to right) are conductor Oscar Fried, mezzo-soprano Eva Gauthier, composer-conductor Manoah Leide-Tedesco, and composer George Gershwin.

What Maurice Ravel got from jazz, and what jazz took from Ravel

Nate Chinen

The French composer Maurice Ravel was deeply enamored of jazz. Generations of jazz musicians have returned the compliment.

Composer Leonard Bernstein outside of his Fairfield, Connecticut home. Bernstein's most recognizable affiliation was as the longtime music director of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition, Bernstein was noted for writing the music for the highly acclaimed musical, West Side Story.

WRTI Spotlight

Relax into the Fourth of July with our special Classical programming

Look no further for your classical music soundtrack to the Fourth of July!

Pianist Marcus Roberts performs during the London Jazz Festival on Nov. 17, 2012.

The Philadelphia Orchestra in Concert

The Philadelphia Orchestra in Concert: Marcus Roberts shines in Gershwin's 'Rhapsody in Blue'

Melinda Whiting

Join us on Sunday, Aug. 18 at 1 p.m. on WRTI 90.1 and Monday, Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. on WRTI HD-2 as The Philadelphia Orchestra in Concert features Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin, Petrushka by Igor Stravinsky, and the Symphony No. 2 by Kurt Weill. The Marcus Roberts Trio adds extra improvisatory flair to the Rhapsody, and Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts.

WRTI Spotlight

BONUS: I Hear a Rhapsody

Greg Bryant

Marcus Roberts was recently in town to perform Gershwin's 'Rhapsody in Blue' with The Philadelphia Orchestra, and he stopped by our studio to talk about it. In this bonus episode of The Late Set, we feature that interview along with our own thoughts about the 'Rhapsody,' which can still inspire heated debate.

Latest Classical from NPR Music

'Rhapsody in Blue': After a century, Gershwin's musical melting pot still resonates

Tom Huizenga

On Feb. 12, 1924, a sassy fusion of jazz and classical music debuted in New York, sparking a mutual exchange of ideas still debated today.

WRTI Spotlight

New Every Time: Marcus Roberts assesses 'Rhapsody in Blue' at 100

Nate Chinen

"The rhythm is really what makes it magical," says pianist Marcus Roberts of Gershwin's 'Rhapsody in Blue,' first heard a century ago. Before he performed the piece with The Philadelphia Orchestra, Roberts stopped by WRTI to talk about its legacy with Nate Chinen.

Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts The Philadelphia Orchestra at Verizon Hall on Oct. 6, 2023.

The Philadelphia Orchestra in Concert

Daniil Trifonov plays Gershwin; The Philadelphia Orchestra performs Still and Anna Clyne

Melinda Whiting

Join us on Sunday, May 26 at 1 p.m. on WRTI 90.1, and Monday, May 27 at 7 p.m. on WRTI HD-2 when The Philadelphia Orchestra in Concert brings you an encore performance that opened the Orchestra's 2023/2024 season.

Pianist Aaron Diehl joins Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin and The Philadelphia Orchestra for a performance of Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" on the Digital Stage.

WRTI Spotlight

For International Jazz Day, works by Marsalis, Gershwin and Ravel, via The Philadelphia Orchestra

Melinda Whiting

The Philadelphia Orchestra in Concert celebrates International Jazz Day with performances of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue; Maurice Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major; and Wynton Marsalis’ Tuba Concerto, along with selections from his Blues Symphony.

Arts Desk

Classical Album of the Week: Summertime with American Music played by Pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason

Susan Lewis

August 9, 2021. She's the eldest of seven in an increasingly famous English family of musical siblings. Isata Kanneh-Mason's idea for her second solo…

Arts Desk

Nightclub Sounds in the Concert Hall? That's Gershwin's Piano Concerto in F

Susan Lewis

In 1925, George Gershwin was known for his popular songs, Broadway music, and his Rhapsody in Blue. As WRTI’s Susan Lewis reports, he then tackled another…