Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra & Barbara Hannigan - An American Dream? (2026) Mp3 / Flac / Hi-Res

With ‘An American Dream?’, Barbara Hannigan explores the concept of The American Dream. “I grew up in awe of America, but now my feelings are mainly nostalgic. With this repertoire, I want to express my admiration for the incredible creativity and tenacity of composers who shaped a musical language that was truly their own.”
The Canadian conductor and soprano collaborates with her long-time partners, the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, on this programme of works by American composers. With ‘the fair’ as a recurring theme across the repertoire, the image on the cover shows a carousel horse that is at a standstill. A pretty, painted object - but the floor is cracked and half the lights are burned out. Nostalgia and memory are mixed with underlying darkness and destruction.
From George Gershwin’s operatic masterpiece about love, addiction, racism, and hope, Robert Russell Bennett’s iconic arrangement Porgy and Bess: A Symphonic Picture is featured. Inspired by watching the silent film Nosferatu at the cinema in Paris in 1925, Aaron Copland composed a ballet which eventually became the vibrant Dance Symphony. The Carousel Waltz (arr. Don Walker) is the overture to the dark-themed Broadway musical Carousel by Richard Rodgers. For the grand finale, Barbara Hannigan reunites with American composer and arranger Bill Elliott in their joint creation, At the Fair. The suite starts with Have I Stayed Too Long at the Fair? and concludes with Jule Styne's famous hit Don't Rain on my Parade, both sung by Hannigan. The middle section of the suite is instrumental and includes a multitude of well-known American songs and themes, battling one another for pride of place.

Tracklist
1. Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra & Barbara Hannigan - Gershwin: Porgy and Bess, a Symphonic Picture (Arr. for Orchestra by Robert Russell Bennett): I. Catfish Row
2. Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra & Barbara Hannigan - Gershwin: Porgy and Bess, a Symphonic Picture (Arr. for Orchestra by Robert Russell Bennett): II. Clara, Clara
3. Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra & Barbara Hannigan - Gershwin: Porgy and Bess, a Symphonic Picture (Arr. for Orchestra by Robert Russell Bennett): III. Opening Music - IV. Summertime
4. Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra & Barbara Hannigan - Gershwin: Porgy and Bess, a Symphonic Picture (Arr. for Orchestra by Robert Russell Bennett): V. I Got Plenty o' Nuttin' - VI. Hurricane Music
5. Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra & Barbara Hannigan - Gershwin: Porgy and Bess, a Symphonic Picture (Arr. for Orchestra by Robert Russell Bennett): VII. Bess, You Is My Woman Now
6. Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra & Barbara Hannigan - Gershwin: Porgy and Bess, a Symphonic Picture[Arr. for Orchestra by Robert Russell Bennett]: VIII. Picnic Scene (Oh, I Can’t Sit Down) - IX. There’s a Boat That’s Leaving Soon for New York
7. Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra & Barbara Hannigan - Gershwin: Porgy and Bess, a Symphonic Picture (Arr. for Orchestra by Robert Russell Bennett): X. It Ain't Necessarily So - XI. Oh Lord, I'm on My Way
8. Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra & Barbara Hannigan - Copland: Dance Symphony: I. Lento - Molto allegro - Adagio molto
9. Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra & Barbara Hannigan - Copland: Dance Symphony: II. Andante moderato
10. Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra & Barbara Hannigan - Copland: Dance Symphony: III. Allegro vivo
11. Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra & Barbara Hannigan - Rodgers: The Carousel Waltz (Arr. for Orchestra by Don Walker)
12. Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra & Barbara Hannigan - Barnes: At the Fair (Arr. for Orchestra and Voice by Barbara Hannigan and Bill Elliott): I. Have I Stayed Too Long at the Fair?
13. Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra & Barbara Hannigan - Sterling, Rodgers: At the Fair (Arr. for Orchestra and Voice by Barbara Hannigan and Bill Elliott): II. An American Dream
14. Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra & Barbara Hannigan - Styne: At the Fair: III. Don't Rain on My Parade

Blog with my downloads here!