Q & A: Soprano Brittany Renee Reflects on ‘Porgy and Bess’ and the Changing Landscape of Opera

https://operawire.com/q-a-soprano-brittany-renee-reflects-on-porgy-and-bess-and-the-changing-landscape-of-opera/

(Photo: Daniel W) Soprano Brittany Renee is a Grammy Award-winner who has built up an impressive international career, performing at the Metropolitan Opera, Washington National Opera, New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Teatro Regio di Torino, Semperoper Dresden, and Teatro Petruzelli, among others. The soprano is set to {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Metropolitan Opera 2025-26 Review: Porgy and Bess

https://operawire.com/metropolitan-opera-2025-26-review-porgy-and-bess/

On December 2, 2025, the Metropolitan Opera delivered a ray of sunshine with a jubilant opening of Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess.” Last seen on the Met stage in their 2021 season, this year’s run featured new and returning artists who all came together for something as uplifting as it was exciting. In regard to James Robinson’s production, many of my {…}

News

Alfred Walker, Brittany Renee, Denyce Graves, Latonia Moore & Leah Hawkins Lead Metropolitan Opera’s ‘Porgy and Bess’ Revival

https://operawire.com/alfred-walker-brittany-renee-denyce-graves-latonia-moore-leah-hawkins-lead-metropolitan-operas-porgy-and-bess-revival/

(Credit: Ken Howard / Metropolitan Opera) The Metropolitan Opera is set to revive Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess” for the first time since 2019 in James Robinson’s production. The opera will open on Dec. 2 and be performed 13 times. The production will feature conductor Kwamé Ryan in his company debut, leading a cast that includes bass-baritone Alfred Walker and soprano {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Theatro Municipal de São Paulo 2025 Review: Porgy and Bess

https://operawire.com/theatro-municipal-de-sao-paulo-2025-review-porgy-and-bess/

(Photo: Rafael Salvador) On September 19th, the Theatro Municipal de São Paulo brought to the stage its first production of “Porgy and Bess,” an opera by George Gershwin (1898-1937), with a libretto by Edwin DuBose Heyward (1885-1940) and Ira Gershwin (1896-1983), based on the novel turned into a play “Porgy,” by DuBose Heyward. The theater assembled not only a cast {…}

Interviews

Q & A: Bass-Baritone Michael Sumuel on ‘Porgy and Bess’ & His Start in Opera

https://operawire.com/q-a-bass-baritone-michael-sumuel-on-porgy-and-bess-his-start-in-opera/

(Image Source: IMG Artists) When Bass Baritone Michael Sumuel landed in San Francisco after finishing his run as Porgy in the Washington National Opera’s “Porgy and Bess,” he realized he’d only been home about 15 days the entire year. He was in town for a couple weeks before he flew to Sydney where he’ll sing the title role in “Le {…}

Interviews, Stage Spotlight

Q & A: Reginald Smith Jr. on Curating a Repertoire, His Love of Teaching, & His In-Depth Knowledge of Gershwin’s ‘Porgy and Bess’

https://operawire.com/q-a-reginald-smith-jr-on-curating-a-repertoire-his-love-of-teaching-his-in-depth-knowledge-of-gershwins-porgy-and-bess/

(Photo credit: Jiyang Chen) Grammy and Emmy Award-winning baritone Reginald Smith, Jr. met with OperaWire to discuss his exciting 2025-26 season. Throughout the conversation, Smith details his dedication to reaching diverse audiences and explains how his background in music education enhances his performance career. Later this month, Smith will make his long-awaited role debut as Porgy in Francesca Zambello’s production of {…}

News

Washington National Opera to Perform ‘Porgy and Bess’

https://operawire.com/washington-national-opera-to-perform-porgy-and-bess/

The Washington National Opera is set to present “Porgy and Bess” in Artistic Director Francesca Zambello’s acclaimed production. Zambello’s production was first seen on the Kennedy Center stage in the 2005–2006 season and the return marks the 90th anniversary of this work. In a statement, Zambello said, “It is hard to believe it’s been 20 years since I first directed {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Cape Town Opera 2024 Review: Porgy and Bess

https://operawire.com/cape-town-opera-2024-review-porgy-and-bess/

Cape Town Opera’s “Porgy and Bess” created an extraordinary cultural confluence in its Chinese premiere at the Poly Theatre. Closing the 27th Beijing Music Festival on 12 October 2024, this production brings together 39 singers and 75 musicians as Gershwin’s South Carolina masterpiece, reimagined through South African artistry, finds new resonance on the Beijing stage. It arrives at a {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Greensboro Opera Review: Porgy and Bess

https://operawire.com/greensboro-opera-review-porgy-and-bess/

(Credit: Luke Jamroz) The long-awaited Greensboro Opera production of George Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess” starring Rhiannon Giddens, Thomas Cannon, and Sidney Outlaw was performed on Jan. 21 and 23, 2022 at the Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts. Originally the opera was scheduled to take place in 2020 but was postponed due to the start of the pandemic. The wait {…}

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Q & A: Soprano Brittany Renee Reflects on ‘Porgy and Bess’ and the Changing Landscape of Opera

Metropolitan Opera 2025-26 Review: Porgy and Bess

Alfred Walker, Brittany Renee, Denyce Graves, Latonia Moore & Leah Hawkins Lead Metropolitan Opera’s ‘Porgy and Bess’ Revival

Theatro Municipal de São Paulo 2025 Review: Porgy and Bess

Q & A: Bass-Baritone Michael Sumuel on ‘Porgy and Bess’ & His Start in Opera

Q & A: Reginald Smith Jr. on Curating a Repertoire, His Love of Teaching, & His In-Depth Knowledge of Gershwin’s ‘Porgy and Bess’

Washington National Opera to Perform ‘Porgy and Bess’

Cape Town Opera 2024 Review: Porgy and Bess

Greensboro Opera Review: Porgy and Bess