Dutch National Opera presents
The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess
Everyone knows the hits from the opera and 1959 film Porgy and Bess, which include ‘Summertime’, ‘I Got Plenty O’ Nuttin’’, ‘Bess, You Is My Woman Now’ and ‘It Ain’t Necessarily So’.
The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess is a unique opera and a popular favourite in which George Gershwin mixed jazz with the western opera tradition and Afro-American and Russian Jewish music.
Special discounts are availalable for those of 16 and younger!
Etnic and social drama
The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess stirred widespread controversy when it was first staged in 1935, playing into negative clichés surrounding poor black people living on the fringes of society. In fact, The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, even though the story is set among Afro-Americans, is not only an ethnic drama but also a social drama.
Gershwin’s infectious music in Porgy and Bess makes it equally beloved by younger audiences. Kids aged 16 and under receive a discount on tickets to this production.
George Gershwin
George Gershwin’s oeuvre bridges the gap between jazz and classical music. It was DuBose Heyward’s novel Porgy that inspired him to compose the full-length opera in 1926, with his brother Ira Gershwin writing the libretto. In 1934 George spent the summer composing in South Carolina to immerse himself in the southern atmosphere. In his own words, he wanted this opera to combine ‘the drama and romance of Carmen and the beauty of Meistersinger’.
Debuts
Director James Robinson and conductor James Gaffigan both make their Dutch National Opera debut.
Vibrant recreation
Michael Yeargan’s set for The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess vibrantly recreates the sights and sounds of the poor harbour-side neighbourhood of Catfish Row in Charleston, South Carolina, whose inhabitants are all trying to survive – by whatever means they can.
NETHERLANDS PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Along with the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra has been the regular orchestra partner of Dutch National Opera since 1985, and is internationally regarded as one of the best opera orchestras. Each season, the two orchestras perform the majority of the opera productions in Dutch National Opera & Ballet. The Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra gives a varied programme of concerts in the Concertgebouw and also performs at other major concert halls and festivals in the Netherlands and abroad. Marc Albrecht is the principal conductor of the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra|Netherlands Chamber Orchestra and of Dutch National Opera. In recent seasons, Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra has had great success with audiences and international press alike, with productions including Gurre-Lieder, Lohengrin, Der Rosenkavalier, Il Trovatore and Hänsel und Gretel. The Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Marc Albrecht, received an Edison for their recording of the DNO production Der Schatzgräber, in December 2014.
Team, Cast and Chorus
- Musical Director
- James Gaffigan
- Stage Director
- James Robinson
- Set
- Michael Yeargan
- Costumes
- Catherine Zuber
- Light
- Donald Holder
- Video
- Luke Halls
- Choreography
- Dianne McIntyre
- Musical accompaniment
- Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra
Porgy and Bess Ensemble
- Porgy
- Eric Owens
- Bess
- Adina Aaron
- Crown
- Mark S. Doss
- Sportin’ Life
- Frederick Ballentine
- Robbins
- Chaz’men Williams-Ali
- Serena
- Latonia Moore
- Jake
- Donovan Singletary
- Clara
- Janai Brugger
- Maria
- Tichina Vaughn
- Peter
- Ronald Samm
- Frazier
- Byron Jackson
- Annie
- Sarah-Jane Lewis
- Jim
- Njabulo Madlala
- Undertaker
- Whitaker Mills
- Crab man
- Chaz’men Williams-Ali
Wed 14 Feb
Bachtrack over Eric Owens als Porgy, 2014
‘About those individual voices: they all converge on Eric Owens, who sings Porgy with a fathomless voice of reinforced steel.’
Co-production with English National Opera, London and Metropolitan Opera, New York
Licenses
The Gershwins’ PORGY AND BESS by George Gershwin, DuBose and Dorothy Heyward, and Ira Gershwin. The worldwide copyrights in the works of George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin for this presentation are licensed by the Gershwin Family.
GERSHWIN is a registered trademark of Gershwin Enterprises. Porgy and Bess is a registered trademark of Porgy and Bess Enterprises.
Foyer Evening
Step into the world of the makers. Sit back with a drink in an informal setting and enjoy an aria or duet, a pas de deux or small ensemble, or an interview with a singer or choreographer. A varied programme, linked to a topical theme, is presented for each production.
NB: In principle, the foyer evenings are given in Dutch, but in practice the high number of international guests means that English is often spoken as well.
Tues 08 January The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess
Start: 20.30 (doors open 20.00)
Location: Odeonzaal
Duration: 60 minutes
Price: € 10, € 7,50 (Vrienden), € 5 (students)
Free for Donors, Geefkringleden van Dutch National Ballet and Patterns of Dutch National Opera & Ballet.
