Difference between revisions of "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]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porgy_and_Bess]. | ''[[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]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porgy_and_Bess]. | ||
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| + | ==Translations and adaptations== | ||
== Performance history in South Africa == | == 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. | + | 1978: Presented by [[JODS]] 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) | + | 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) | 2001: Presented by [[Cape Town Opera]] (23–30 May) | ||
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2006: Presented by [[Cape Town Opera]] (21–30 September) | 2006: Presented by [[Cape Town Opera]] (21–30 September) | ||
| − | 2012: Presented by [[Cape Town Opera]] (29 September – 6 October) | + | 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. |
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| + | 2012: Presented by [[Cape Town Opera]] (29 September – 6 October), directed by [[Christine Crouse]] (and set in Soweto). | ||
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| + | 2024: A semi-staged version co-produced by Beijing Music Festival, [[Cape Town Opera]] and KT Wong Foundation presented in Shanghai and Beijing (8 October – 13 October). More than 40 members of the Cape Town Opera Chorus, recipients of the International Opera Award for best chorus, flew to China to perform in the show, alongside soprano [[Nonhlanhla Yende]] playing the heroine Bess, and bass singer [[Otto Maidi]] playing the hero Porgy. | ||
== Sources == | == Sources == | ||
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[[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. | [[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. | ||
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| + | Hilde Roos. 2012. 'Indigenisation and history: how opera in South Africa became South African opera'. Acta Academica Supplementum. 2012(1). | ||
== Return to == | == Return to == | ||
Latest revision as of 23:46, 30 January 2026
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 by JODS 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).
2024: A semi-staged version co-produced by Beijing Music Festival, Cape Town Opera and KT Wong Foundation presented in Shanghai and Beijing (8 October – 13 October). More than 40 members of the Cape Town Opera Chorus, recipients of the International Opera Award for best chorus, flew to China to perform in the show, alongside soprano Nonhlanhla Yende playing the heroine Bess, and bass singer Otto Maidi playing the hero Porgy.
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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