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A highlight of my concerts last week with the LO for the Martin Luther King, Jr. anniversary was performing Gershwin with pianist Stewart Goodyear.  In Stewart’s hands Rhapsody in Blue was by turns brash and bluesy, swinging and soulful. I’m already looking forward to working with him again sometime down the road.

And of course it would be an understatement to suggest that the Rhapsody is one of this country’s most essential works of art. In fact, I’ve said it and written it before – George Gershwin is the most American of all American composers. Hardly a controversial opinion, but just to back it up: a few weeks ago a Gershwin special on American Routes explored the depth of the composer’s appeal to a wide variety of American musicians.