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First Staging of The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess at the English National Opera

Oct. 01, 2018

First Staging of The Gershwins' <em>Porgy and Bess</em> at the English National Opera

The English National Opera presents its first ever staging of The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess from October 11 to November 18. ENO's new production will use the provisional performance edition materials that are currently in preparation by the University of Michigan's Gershwin Initiative. Conductor John Wilson and director James Robinson make their ENO debuts with this premiere staging of the opera at London's storied Coliseum. A co-prodcution with the Dutch National Opera and The Metropolitan Opera, Porgy and Bess travels to the Dutch National Opera for performances January 16 to 31, with conductor James Gaffigan making his Dutch National Opera debut, and The Metropolitan Opera in the 2019/20 season, where it will be directed by Bartlett Sher and feature Eric Owens in the leading role. The Metropolitan Opera's production will utilize for the first time the Gershwin Initiative's final, definitive performance edition materials for the opera.

Set in Charleston, South Carolina, Porgy and Bess tells the story of a disabled beggar, Porgy, who is trying to create a home for himself and his lover, Bess. The American classic includes many well-known arias including “Summertime,” “Bess, You is My Woman Now,” and “I Got Plenty o’ Nuttin.”


("Summertime" from Porgy and Bess/English National Opera Orchestra/Nadine Benjamin, soprano/John Wilson, conductor)

For more information on George Gershwin, visit schott-music.com.

George Gershwin
Porgy and Bess (1935)
an opera in three acts
libretto (Eng) by DuBose Heyward
lyrics by DuBose Heyward and Ira Gershwin
founded on the play “Porgy” by Dorothy and DuBose Heyward
for 4 sopranos, 2 mezzo-soprano, alto, boy soprano, 6 tenors, 5 baritones, bass-baritone, speaking roles and chorus
2(2.pic).2(2.ca).3(3.,3.asax).bcl(tsax).1-3.3.2.1-timp.perc-pno.banjo-str (on stage: pno)
180’

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