Rhapsody in Love

Details

Renée Guerrero full profile / Piano, vocal / 3 musicians

Other players: Quintin Harris & Artemisia LeFay

Full program notes

Commemorates the 100th year anniversary of the world premiere of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue in 1924 and the music of Kay Swift, the first successful female composer on Broadway with her musical Fine and Dandy. Gershwin and Swift had a romantic and musical relationship for over ten years until his untimely death in 1937. The two inspired many compositions from each other and Swift became his trusted musical advisor and even edited his works after his death. It was believed that she could play the score of Porgy and Bess from memory and it was he who encouraged a classically trained Swift to venture into the popular music genre. I have been entrusted with rarely and never performed piano works by the Kay Swift Memorial Trust which I am excited to premiere and share with audiences who most likely don't know who she is.

Historical context

Kay Swift was Gershwin's romantic partner and the first successful female composer on Broadway.

Videos from this player

Audio from this player