Celebrating Gershwin’s Extraordinary Creative Output During the 1920’s

Rhapsody in Blue   |   Concerto in F   |   An American in Paris
and additional piano arrangements of Gershwin's greatest works 

Popular pianist and speaker Dr. Rachel Franklin returns to Temple B’nai Israel to celebrate George Gershwin’s greatest achievements during this centenary decade.

Gershwin's groundbreaking fusion of classical music and jazz, Rhapsody in Blue, is one of America's most beloved cultural icons, an exuberant symbol of the nation's melting pot self-image, its vigor, optimism, and constant reinvention. Learn about the roles of arranger Ferde Grofé & bandleader Paul Whiteman, the myriad reincarnations of Rhapsody in Blue since its exuberant premiere in 1924, and many more of Gershwin's greatest works.

Franklin also dives into Gershwin’s extraordinary but painfully short life, how he conceived this music, his deeply influential Jewish immigrant roots and how they are part of our universal Rhapsody experience.

British-born Franklin has been a featured speaker for organizations including the Library of Congress and NPR, exploring intersections between classical and jazz music, film scores, and the fine arts