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 1950s, singing swing standards, and songs referencing her recent 'Songbook' series, in this case, the Cole Porter and Rodgers and Hart songbooks.

Reception

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".[1] For the 1986 Verve CD re-issue Ella Fitzgerald at the Opera House, Verve 831-269-2

Track listing

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.

Personnel

Tracks 1-8, 10-16

Tracks 9, 17-18