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By Theodore
Fischer, Sidewalk
George Gershwin was born
100 years ago (on Sept. 28, 1898) and died more than 60 years ago in
Beverly Hills, Calif. A master composer and concert pianist whose work
spanned the worlds of popular song, classical music, jazz, Broadway and
opera, Gershwin today is more popular than ever. Although Gershwin had no
strong connection to Washington – the swinging bachelor spent most of
his brief life in New York, Los Angeles and Europe – a lot of his
memorabilia (left and below) as well as a few memories have wound up here.
Gershwin Room, Library of Congress. A small gallery on the
ground floor of the Jefferson Building contains "Here to Stay:
George and Ira Gershwin," a permanent exhibit devoted to George
and his lyricist brother, Ira. Highlights include George's Steinway and
Sons grand piano (pictured above), his specially designed writing desk,
his first metronome and a self-portrait in which he wears a snazzy
checkered sweater. Along with manuscripts, sheet music, contracts, royalty
statements and other show-biz paperwork, the exhibit provides glimpses of
the brothers at play, including a photo of George at a 1929 "come as
somebody else" party dressed as Groucho Marx.
National Portrait Gallery. On the second-floor east-side
corridor hangs a portrait of Gershwin painted by Arthur Kaufmann in 1936.
When Gershwin died a year later, Kaufmann offered the painting to his
mother, who turned it down flat because her son – clad in a spiffy
sports jacket and tie – was dressed too casually for her taste. The
gallery's gift shop carries Gershwin recordings including the
Smithsonian's fantastic four-CD compilation, I Got Rhythm: The Music of
George Gershwin.
Of Thee I Sing. The Gershwin brothers' most
successful show – and the first musical comedy to win a Pulitzer Prize
– was a Washington political satire that opened in 1931. In the play,
John P. Wintergreen runs for president on the "love platform"
(he's all for it) and holds a beauty contest in Atlantic City to select a
first lady. Although he jilts the contest winner and instead marries his
secretary, he wins the election anyway. The French government protests his
dastardly behavior (the contest winner turns out be an illegitimate
descendant of Napoleon's), international tension mounts and impeachment
proceedings are initiated. However, the process is abruptly and joyously
canceled when (listen up, Hillary!) the first lady gives birth to twins.
DAR
Constitution Hall.
On Feb. 8, 1934, Gershwin as piano soloist with a symphony orchestra
performed a "program of Gershwin successes," ranging from the
relatively highbrow "Rhapsody in Blue," "I Got Rhythm"
variations and "An American in Paris" to pop hits such as "Swanee"
and "Strike Up the Band."
Todd Duncan. The operatic baritone who in 1935 originated the role
of Porgy in Gershwin's Porgy and Bess was a Washingtonian who
taught voice in the music department of Howard University and in
1945 became the first African American to perform with the New York City
Opera. Still teaching and singing to the end, Duncan died in Washington
last February at the age of 95.
Gershwin-esque haunts. Gershwin would feel right at home in the art
deco environs of The Prime Rib – especially since he'd be allowed
to smoke his signature stogie there – and he'd enjoy the atmosphere and
sounds wafting from the piano bar at the West End Cafe. Places
to go if you like a Gershwin tune include the lawyer- and
lobbyist-laden Town & Country Lounge in the Mayflower Hotel,
the elegant atmosphere and cool jazz at Off the Record in the Hay-Adams
Hotel, the French-accented Cate's Bistro in Old Town Alexandria
and the gussied-up flair of James III Restaurant & Piano Lounge in
Rockville.
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