George Gershwin

Cuban Overture

On 1931 George Gershwin had definitely become well established with the musical Of Thee I Sing on Broadway. On 16 August 1932 was a concert at the Lewisohn Stadium in New York with the New York Philharmonic to consolidate his position in the area of concert music. There could be exclusively heard the music of Gershwin. On the programme were among others his Concerto in F and An American in Paris, yonder musical souvenir which he has brought from his trip to Europe in 1928.A further souvenir from travels was still heard as a premiere. At the beginning of 1932 Gershwin travelled to Cuba taking a short brake. Having arrived in the hotel he was overtaken by a rumba-band which assembled under his window to serenade the famous guest. Gershwin was immediately fascinated by the dance rhythms of the Cuban music and within three weeks he wrote a composition for orchestra in this musical style. The traditional Cuban instrumentation with Sapo Cubano (tonewoods), bongos and maracas will present a firework of rhythms. In one reviewer's point of view Gershwin's work outrange Ravel's Bolero on liveliness. At the open-air concert the work was performed by the original title called 'Rumba'. For the first performance in the closed concert hall of the Metropolitan Opera on 1 November 1932 Gershwin changed the title into Cuban Overture. He explains the reasons for his decision: While some people read the work title 'Rumba' they may be thinking of 'Peanut Vendor' or similar hits. 'Cuban Overture' better reflects the intention and character of the music.- George Gershwin