Porgy and Bess

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Porgy and Bess, an American folk opera, first performed in 1935, with music by George Gershwin, libretto by DuBose Heyward, and lyrics by DuBose Heyward and Ira Gershwin. [1].


Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1978: Presented at the Alhambra Theatre, directed by Taubie Kushlick, the title roles played by Ben Masinga and Betty Mthombeni, opening 23 November to largely unfavourable reviews.

1996: Presented by CAPAB Opera (30 March – 12 April), with American guest singers Simon Estes, Cynthia Clarey, Ronald T Smith, James Butler joining Virginia Davids (as Serena), Sibongile Mngoma (as Clara) and Miranda Tini (as Maria).

2001: Presented by Cape Town Opera (23–30 May)

2006: Presented by Cape Town Opera (21–30 September)

2009: Presented by Cape Town Opera, set in a 1950s Soweto, highlighting the issue of buildings that were invaded in Johannesburg. Indigenous instruments such as the penny whistle and mouth organ were also used for this production.

2012: Presented by Cape Town Opera (29 September – 6 October), directed by Christine Crouse (and set in Soweto).

Sources

Tucker, 1997. p. 362.

Wayne Muller. 2018. A reception history of opera in Cape Town: Tracing the development of a distinctly South African operatic aesthetic (1985–2015). Unpublished PhD thesis.

Hilde Roos. 2012. 'Indigenisation and history: how opera in South Africa became South African opera'. Acta Academica Supplementum. 2012(1).

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