Composer
George Gershwin
Rehearsal: Porgy and Bess
Wed. May 21, 2025
7p.m.
Event Information
-
Genre
Performances for Young Audiences
WASHINGTON NATIONAL OPERA
Rehearsal: Porgy and Bess
Enjoy an insider’s look at our companies as they prepare onstage for performance.
It’s “summertime, and the livin’ is easy” in Catfish Row, a working-class fishing town in South Carolina. When a murder shakes the community and tempts Bess to return to her drug-filled past, Porgy becomes her unlikely refuge. As a hurricane descends and Bess’ violent old flame returns, she’ll find herself torn between Porgy’s steadfast love and the demons that tempt her. Artistic Director Francesca Zambello’s adaptation of Gershwin’s landmark “folk opera” returns after playing to critical acclaim across renowned opera stages. Often considered the first great American opera, Porgy and Bess melds jazz, gospel, and folk styles. A new generation of talented singers assembles to take on Gershwin’s beloved music, from the gentle duet “Bess, You Is My Woman Now” to the instantly recognizable “Summertime” lullaby. Themes of community resilience, acceptance, and redemption weave through this poignant story, ultimately asking if even the most unwavering love can drive out darkness.
Music by George Gershwin. Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward. In English with Projected English Titles. Composed 1965. Original WNO Production with Sets from The Glimmerglass Festival. The scenery was originally created for Glimmerglass Festival & Seattle Opera.
May 21, 2025
Opera House, recommended for grades 10-12
Estimated duration is approximately three hours with an intermission.
Learning guide content for this event will be available approximately two weeks before the first performance.
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Related Resources
Media Porgy and Bess
A quick overview of Gershwin’s 1935 quintessential American masterpiece.
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Media Opera in the 20th Century: 1920-1960
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Media Understanding Opera
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Media The Weird & Wonderful World of Opera
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