Soon after writing his great works for piano and orchestra (available on VOX-NX-3018CD), Gershwin turned to his ‘tone poem for orchestra’, An American in Paris. With indelible themes, and masterly string writing, it remains one of his best-known works. Gershwin’s Rumba for orchestra, the vivacious Cuban Overture, was inspired by a visit to Havana. А few years later Porgy and Bess opened to mixed reviews in New York and Gershwin hoped to salvage some of the music in a suite that, when it was rediscovered in 1958 by Ira Gershwin, was called Catfish Row.