Despite the popularity of the symphonic works Rhapsody in Blue and Piano Concerto in F, Gershwin was unsure of his abilities as a classical composer. He was insecure at orchestration and felt he needed a teacher. He sought out Maurice Ravel, who was astonished at Gershwin’s technical prowess artistry, but felt he was a bad match for Gershwin.

The French composer did, however, offer a letter of introduction to Nadia Boulanger, the great French pedagogue who taught many of America’s most promising composers, including Aaron Copland, Roy Harris, Virgil Thomson, David Diamond, and Walter Piston. Boulanger was overwhelmed by Gershwin’s natural lyricism. She felt that her academic approach to composition instruction might hamper his effusive talents. She too declined to teach him.

An American in Paris represents Gershwin’s experiences of his first trip to Paris, France, from the sounds of jazz to car horns throughout the streets of Paris. Although the work was intended as pure concert music, its Charleston-like rhythms, jazz-inspired syncopations, and blues-like trumpet melody (complete with saxophone accompaniment) made it a natural vehicle for choreography and inspired Vincente Minnelli’s 1951 Academy Award-winning film An American in Paris, starring Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron, and Nina Foch.