The Philadelphia Orchestra and conductor Marin Alsop present a live recording with highlights of Gershwin's self-proclaimed American "Folk Opera" Porgy and Bess, together with a stellar cast and the Morgan State University Choir. Since it's premiere in 1935, Porgy and Bess has been one of the most significant attempts to - following Antonin DvorÃ¡k's famous instruction of 1893 - create American classical music inspired by Afro-American styles such as jazz, spirituals and the blues. It has also proven to be a powerful catalyst for bringing more diverse casts to the opera stage. The hard-knock life at a Charleston waterfront tenement is presented here by an outstanding cast including Lester Lynch (Porgy), Angel Blue (Bess, Clara and Serena), Chauncey Packer (Sportin' Life) and Kevin Short (Crown, Jake). Marin Alsop is one of today's most acclaimed conductors, and the first woman to serve as the head of a major orchestra in the United States, South America, Austria and Britain. The Philadelphia Orchestra is one of the world's preeminent orchestras. Multi-award-winning soprano Angel Blue is one of the most promising voices of her generation, while Chauncey Packer is arguably one of the greatest and sought-after Sportin' Life interpreters today. Lester Lynch and Kevin Short both enjoy a flourishing stage career, as well as a vast PENTATONE discography.

Tracklist:

* Act 1 Introduction
Scene 1: Catfish Row, a Summer Evening
Summertime
A Woman Is a Sometime Thing
* Scene 2: Serena's Room, the Following Night
Where Is Brudder Robbins? He's a Gone, Gone Gone
Overflow
My Man's Gone Now
* Act 2 - Scene 1: Catfish Row, a Month Later
I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'
Lo' Bess, Goin' to Picnic?
Bess, You Is My Woman Now
Oh, I Can't Sit Down
Porgy, I Hates to Go
* Scene 2: Kittiwah Island, Evening, the Same Day
It Ain't Necessarily So
Hear What I Tell You
What You Want Wid Bess?
* Scene 3: Catfish Row, Before Dawn, a Week Later
Now de Time, Oh Gawd - I Loves You, Porgy
* Act 3 - Scene 1: Catfish Row, the Next Night
Andantino Dolente
Clara, Clara - Jesus Is Walkin' on de Water
* Scene 2: Catfish Row, the Next Afternoon
Cheer Up, Sistuh
There's a Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon for New York
You Low Crawlin' Hound!
* Scene 3: Catfish Row, a Week Later
Thank Gawd I's Home Again!
Oh Lawd, I'm on My Way

UPC: 827949088360
Label: Pentatone
Release Date: 7.9.21
Format: CD

Gershwin / Alsop - Porgy & Bess (Highlights) (Hybr) (CD)