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| Welcome summer with Porgy and Bess. Virginia Opera brings this masterful performance to Richmond, Newport News and Norfolk |
| Sunday, 14 March 2010 00:17 |
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Contributed by WR Murphy This April, the Virginia Opera is putting on Porgy and Bess, Gershwin's most famous work. (You've probably heard the tune "Summertime," from this work.) I can think of no better way to welcome summer than to attend this masterful performance. This opera's sad and beautiful plot, told through Gershwin's masterful Jazz, takes us back to 1920s Charleston, to the craps games and swindling lawyers that plague the poor folk of that town. Of course, the story centers around the love between the two main characters, Porgy and Bess. I don't want to spoil anything for you, so I won't summarize the plot here. Gershwin envisioned Porgy and Bess as an "American Folk Opera," and the work truly was visionary. He first put the opera on with an all-African American cast in 1935, which was itself daring in those days, and opera incorporated Jazz and Blues into what had traditionally been a genre that used only classical music. Gershwin's great work didn't truly gain widespread acceptance until the 1970s, when major American opera companies began performing the work. Now, of course, it is widely regarded as one of the best pieces of music that our country has ever produced. I The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess celebrates the production's 75th Anniversary in 2010. Click here to read more about the composer - George Gershwin.
Purchase your tickets online and save 15%*...it's always a crowd-pleaser.SPECIAL OFFER FOR INSIDER'S PASSPORT READERS: Purchase your tickets online at www.vaopera.org or www.ticketmaster.com for the Norfolk performance or the Richmond performance and enter online code: 762425 at the payment screen to save 15%. For questions or interconnectivity issues call 1-866-Opera-Va (1-866-673-7282).This offer is not available for price section 4 or 1. *Offer valid for the Norfolk and Richmond performances ONLY. This is an online code and can be used at www.vaopera.org andwww.ticketmaster.com at check out or when prompted. If there is a problem with connectivity, please call 1.866.Opera.Va (1.866.673.7282).
Dates & Times: Norfolk, VA Richmond, VA Newport News, VA (offer is not valid for this venue) Click here to purchase tickets!
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I enjoyed your article but in using the phrase “The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess” you are following a current and unfortunate trend to overlook the contribution of DuBose Heyward, who wrote all of the opera’s libretto and the lyrics to most of its songs, including “Summertime.” Ira Gershwin contributed some fine lyrics ("It Ain't Necessarily So" for one) but wrote none of the libretto and never asked to receive equal billing with George.
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March 15, 2010
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| Last Updated on Monday, 29 March 2010 21:12 |
cents and tell us all about it.