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 {…}
(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 {…}
(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 {…}
(Photo: BSoM Headshots) Baritone Donnie Ray Albert likes to quip that “[he’s] had many Besses in his life and [he’s] survived them all.” At 75, he’s enjoying spending time with Gwen, his wife of 52 years and traveling back and forth between his home north of Dallas to Austin where he’s a Distinguished Senior Lecturer in Voice at the University {…}
The Washington National Opera is set to kick off its 70th anniversary season with Opera in the Outfield on August 23, 2025, at Nationals Park in Washington, DC. The free community event will be presented by Mars and will feature a screening of George Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess.” There will be a pre-show arts & crafts with a bonus family {…}
(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 {…}
This year marks the 90th anniversary of George and Ira Gershwin’s folk opera, “Porgy and Bess” on Broadway. Many major opera houses around the country have planned productions, including the Washington National Opera, the Houston Grand Opera and the Metropolitan Opera. While there are many biographies about Gershwin that include chapters devoted to “Porgy and Bess,” the only book that {…}
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 {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced its 2025-26 season. New Productions The season opens on a Sunday with Mason Bates and Gene Scheer’s “The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay” in its Met Opera premiere. Bartlett Sher directs and Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts a cast starring Lauren Snouffer, Sun-Ly Pierce, Miles Mykkanen, Patrick Carfizzi, Craig Colclough, and Andrzej Filoncyzk. Performance Dates: Sept. {…}
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 {…}
North Carolina Opera has announced its 2022-23 season, featuring two company premieres and audience favorites. Here’s what the company has in store for audiences. NCO will present its season opener and company premiere of Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut” in concert for one night only. The presentation stars Marina Costa-Jackson, Jonathan Burton, Levi Hernandez, and Donald Hartmann. NCO’s presentation of Puccini’s devastating {…}
