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At the Opera House

At the Opera House
EllaAtTheOperaHouse.jpg
Live album by Ella Fitzgerald
Released 1958
Recorded September 29, 1957
Chicago Opera House, Chicago
October 7, 1957
Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles
Genre Vocal jazz
Length 32:10 (original LP)
59:20 (CD reissue)
Label Verve
MGV-8264
Producer Norman Granz
Ella Fitzgerald chronology
Porgy and Bess
(1957)Porgy and Bess1957
At the Opera House
(1958)
Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday at Newport
(1958)Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday at Newport1958
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 4.5/5 stars

At the Opera House is a 1958 live album by Ella Fitzgerald. The album presents a recording of the 1957 Jazz at the Philharmonic Concerts. This series of live jazz concerts was devised by Fitzgerald's manager Norman Granz, they ran from 1944 to 1983. Featured on this occasion, in 1957, are Fitzgerald and the leading jazz players of the day in an onstage jam session. The first half of the 1990 CD edition includes a performance that was recorded on September 29, 1957 at the Chicago Opera House, whilst the second half highlights the concert recorded on October 7, 1957 at the Shrine Auditorium, in Los Angeles. The original LP obviously included only the mono tracks (#10-18).

This album is typical of Ella's concert repertoire in the mid 50's, singing swing standards, and songs referencing her recent 'Songbook' series, in this case, the Cole Porter and Rodgers and Hart songbooks.

Writing for Allmusic, music critic Scott Yanow wrote of the album "... this album is mostly recommended to her greatest fans. However, the music is wonderful, there are variations between the different versions, and her voice was at its prime".

For the 1986 Verve CD re-issue Ella Fitzgerald at the Opera House, Verve 831-269-2

Tracks 1-9 recorded in stereo on the 29th of September 1957 at the Chicago Opera House.

Tracks 10-18 recorded in mono on the 7th of October 1957 at the Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles.


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