Porgy and Bess

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"Porgy and Bess" is an English-language opera composed by George Gershwin, with a libretto written by DuBose Heyward and Ira Gershwin. The opera premiered in 1935 and is considered a classic of American musical theater. "Porgy and Bess" tells the story of the African American residents of Catfish Row, a fictional neighborhood in Charleston, South Carolina, during the early 20th century. The plot revolves around the love story between the disabled beggar Porgy and Bess, a beautiful but troubled woman. The opera explores themes of love, community, and the struggles faced by African Americans in the segregated South. The music of "Porgy and Bess" incorporates elements of jazz, blues, and spirituals, making it unique among operatic works. It features iconic songs such as "Summertime," "I Got Plenty o' Nuttin'," and "It Ain't Necessarily So," which have become jazz standards and popular songs in their own right. Over the years, "Porgy and Bess" has been performed and adapted in various forms, including opera productions, Broadway revivals, and film adaptations. The opera has garnered critical acclaim for its rich score and compelling storytelling, while also sparking discussions about racial representation and cultural appropriation due to its depiction of African American characters by primarily white performers in the early years. "Porgy and Bess" remains an important and influential work in American music, with its themes and music resonating with audiences around the world.}

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Authors

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Lyrics
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Later Contributors

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Book (revisions)
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Genre: Opera

Production Highlights

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There are 42 productions in Ovrtur's database.
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Score

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Original score

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Studio Cast Recordings

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From ChatGPT

"Porgy and Bess" is an English-language opera composed by George Gershwin, with a libretto written by DuBose Heyward and Ira Gershwin. The opera premiered in 1935 and is considered a classic of American musical theater. "Porgy and Bess" tells the story of the African American residents of Catfish Row, a fictional neighborhood in Charleston, South Carolina, during the early 20th century. The plot revolves around the love story between the disabled beggar Porgy and Bess, a beautiful but troubled woman. The opera explores themes of love, community, and the struggles faced by African Americans in the segregated South. The music of "Porgy and Bess" incorporates elements of jazz, blues, and spirituals, making it unique among operatic works. It features iconic songs such as "Summertime," "I Got Plenty o' Nuttin'," and "It Ain't Necessarily So," which have become jazz standards and popular songs in their own right. Over the years, "Porgy and Bess" has been performed and adapted in various forms, including opera productions, Broadway revivals, and film adaptations. The opera has garnered critical acclaim for its rich score and compelling storytelling, while also sparking discussions about racial representation and cultural appropriation due to its depiction of African American characters by primarily white performers in the early years. "Porgy and Bess" remains an important and influential work in American music, with its themes and music resonating with audiences around the world.}

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Authors

Original Authors

...
Libretto
...
Lyrics
...
Music

Later Contributors

This list represents writers who contributed to revisions, etc. following the original production.

...
Book (revisions)
...
Music (adaptation)
Genre: Opera

Source

Based on the play Porgy by DuBose and Dorothy Heyward and the novel Porgy by DuBose Heyward.

Synopsis

Bess, a woman with a disreputable history, tries to break free from her brutish lover Crown after he becomes wanted for murder. The only person willing to overlook her past and offer her shelter is the crippled Porgy. Their relationship is threatened by the disapproval of the townspeople, the presence of her old drug supplier Sportin' Life, and the threatened return of Crown.

Trivia & History

GENERAL HISTORY

  • Catfish row is based on the real-life Cabbage Row in Charleston, SC.
  • The work was not accepted as a legitimate opera in the United States until the 1976 Houston Grand production, which established the work as Gershwin's masterpiece. It is now considered to be part of the standard operatic repertoire.
  • Ira Gershwin stipulated that only Blacks be permitted to play the lead roles in productions in the United States and, before his death refused several requests for the work to be staged with all-white casts.
  • The US Postal Service issued a commemorative 29-cent postage stamp on 7/14/1993 in recognition of the work's significance.
  • In 2001, Porgy & Bess became the official opera of South Carolina.
  • Several European productions featured all-white casts, including the 1943 Copenhagen production, Zurich in 1945 and 1950, and again in Copenhagen in 1946.

WRITING PORGY & BESS
George Gershwin read the novel Porgy by DuBose Heyward in 1926 and immediately saw musical possibilities. He wrote to Heyward about the idea of adapting the novel as a folk opera. Heyward was interested but scheduling prevented work beginning on the opera.

In 1927, Heyward and his wife Dorothy adapted as a play, incorporating spirituals. It was produced by the Theatre Guild and ran for 367 performances (for more information, see the IBDB entry for this play). The play generated interested in musicalizing the work, including interest from Al Jolson.

Heyward, however, focused on Gershwin's idea. And, in the fall of 1933, the two men signed a contract with the Theatre Guild to work on the project. The following summer, they went to Folly Beach, South Carolina to get a feel for the locale and the music. They worked most of the summer there with Gershwin drawing much inspiration from the James Island Gullah community, which maintained some African musical traditions. Ira Gershwin provided additional lyrics (notably for "It Ain't Necessarily So". However, Heyward wrote the libretto and the bulk of the lyrics (including "Summer Time").

CHARGES OF RACISM
From the beginning of its life, Porgy & Bess has drawn criticism from Black actors and Blacks in general. Even members of the original cast had concerns about their characters. Several productions in the 1930s were cancelled due to similar concerns.

Many have felt that the characters in the work play into racial stereotypes. The characters live in poverty, take drugs and solve their problems with violence rather than rational thought. The dialect has also been considered racist, showing Blacks as uneducated and barely able to speak English.

In the 1960s, the criticism of the work escalated during a time in American history when racism became an even greater hot-button issue.

Over time the work has gained respect both artistically and racially, having launched the careers of several opera stars.

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Other Titles

  • The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess (revival title)

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