Porgy and Bess is an
opera composed by
George Gershwin, with a
libretto by
DuBose
Heyward and
Ira Gershwin which is based on the
novel and play
Porgy by Heyward.
It
premiered in
New York City in the
Alvin Theatre on 10 October 1935.
The opera takes place on Catfish Row in
Charleston, South Carolina. It is the story
of Porgy, a destitute man who shelters
Bess when her lover Crown flees town after
killing someone in a fight. Porgy's generosity
inspires love in the couple, but Crown
comes back and tries to take Bess back.
Crown and Porgy fight. Porgy kills Crown.
Porgy goes to jail for a little while, only to find
upon his return that Bess has gone to New York City
with the drug dealer, Sportin' Life.
Gil Evans wrote a beautiful arrangement which
Miles Davis recorded with the Gil Evans Orchestra.
Program highlights:
- Summertime
- A Woman is a Sometime Thing
- Gone, Gone, Gone
- My Man's Gone Now
- I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'
- Bess, You is My Woman
- It Ain't Necessarily So
- What You Want Wid Bess?
- I Loves You, Porgy
- There's a Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon for New York
- Oh Bess, Oh Where's My Bess
- Oh Lawd, I'm on My Way