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The Great Performances reissue presents both "Rhapsody In Blue" and "An American In Paris" in their greatest quality yet both soundwise and musicwise. Bernstein's piano work as well as his conducting in the "Rhapsody" prove without a shadow of a doubt why this rendition should be considered the definitive one. "An American In Paris" is represented in such a way that it becomes almost a Bernstein piece as much as it is Gershwin's.
As a special bonus, Gershwin's Piano Concerto in F is included. Unlike the previous two pieces, Leonard Bernstein is not the conductor nor the pianist here. The orchestra is conducted by Andre Kostelanetz while the piano part is played by the great Andre Previn. This performance of the Gershwin Concerto is also definitive with stellar delivery from both Previn and Kostelanetz. The fusion of tradition classical music with modern jazz rhythms is stunning and compelling. While other composers such as Copland, Ravel, Stravinsky and Shostakovich also experimented in combining Classical style with Jazz, Gershwin was entirely in a league of his own with this Concerto as the two styles compliment each other effortlessly without one overshadowing the other.