Porgy and Bess Is the Feb. 1, 2020, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast

Summary: The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess is the Feb. 1, 2020, Met Opera Saturday matinee broadcast, airing as ninth in the season’s 23 radio matinees.

The 2019-2020 Met Opera season’s presentation of George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess debuts American stage director James Robinson’s new production: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook Sept. 10, 2019

The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess is the Feb. 1, 2020, Met Opera Saturday matinee broadcast, airing at 1 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) and numbering as the ninth of the season’s 23 radio matinees.

American composer and pianist George Gershwin (Sept. 26, 1898-July 11, 1937) set his musical score for Porgy and Bess to a libretto by his older brother, American lyricist Ira Gershwin (Dec. 6, 1896-Aug. 17, 1983) and American writer Edwin DuBose Heyward (Aug. 31, 1885-June 16, 1940).

The libretto’s literary source was Porgy: A Play in Four Acts by Heyward and his wife, Dorothy Kuhns Heyward (June 6, 1890-Nov. 19, 1961). The play’s premiere took place Oct. 10, 1927, at the Guild Theatre, a Broadway theatre in midtown Manhattan.

The Heywards adapted the play from Dubose Heyward’s short novel, Porgy, published in 1925 by the George H. Doran Company. Heyward based his main character upon Samuel “Goat Cart Sam” Smalls (1889-1924), a crippled African-American vegetable vendor who sold his produce in Charleston, South Carolina’s Cabbage Row.

George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess premiered Sept. 30, 1935, at the Colonial Theatre in Boston, northeastern Massachusetts. Colonial Theatre’s location at 106 Boylston Street places it in Boston’s Theatre District, on the southern border of the Boston Common.

Porgy and Bess received its Metropolitan Opera premiere on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 1985. The opera received 16 performances in the 1984-1985 Met Opera season.

The 2019-2020 Met Opera season offers 14 performances of Porgy and Bess. The season’s first performance took place Monday, Sept. 23, at 6 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The month’s two additional performances happened Friday, Sept. 27, at 8 p.m. and Monday, Sept. 30, at 7:30 p.m.

Four performances were offered in October. The month’s performances took place Saturday, Oct. 5, at 1 p.m.; Thursday, Oct. 10, at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 13, at 3 p.m.; and Wednesday, Oct. 16, at 7:30 p.m.

Winter performances are scheduled for January and February. Six performances are offered in January. The month’s performances take place Wednesday, Jan. 8, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Jan. 11, at 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Jan. 15, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Jan. 18, at 8 p.m.; Friday, Jan. 24, at 7:30 p.m.; and Tuesday, Jan. 28, at 7:30 p.m. The opera closes with the Saturday matinee broadcast performance, Feb. 1, at 1 p.m.

Update: The Metropolitan Opera announced via Twitter Dec. 5, 2019, that three additional performances in February have been added to the 2019-2020 Met Opera season's schedule. Porgy and Bess will be performed Tuesday, Feb. 4, and Wednesday, Feb. 12, at 7:30 p.m. The opera's closing night will take place Saturday, Feb. 15, at 8 p.m.

The two-act opera has an estimated run time of 3 hours 15 minutes. Act I runs for 95 minutes. An intermission of 27 minutes follows. Act II is estimated at 69 minutes.

David Robertson conducts the 14 originally scheduled performances of Porgy and Bess. He also conducts the last two (Feb. 12, Feb. 15) of the three added performances. The American conductor made his Metropolitan Opera debut Thursday, Jan. 11, 1996, in the Metropolitan Opera’s premiere of The Makropulos Case by Czech composer Leoš Janáček (July 3, 1854-Aug. 12, 1928).

David Robertson shares the conductorship with J. David Jackson, who conducts the first (Feb. 4) of February's three added performances. The American conductor had made his Met Opera debut Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008, in the opera company's 248th performance of Hänsel und Gretel by German composer Engelbert Humperdinck (Sept. 1, 1854-Sept. 27, 1921).

Angel Blue appears in the title role as Bess in 13 of the season’s originally scheduled 14 performances. She appears in all performances except for Sunday, Oct. 13. Angel Blue also sings in February's three added performances. The American operatic soprano made her Metropolitan Opera debut Oct. 2, 2017, as Mimì in the opera house’s 1,306th performance of La Bohème by Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini (Dec. 22, 1858-Nov. 29, 1924).

Elizabeth Llewellyn appears in the Sunday matinee, Oct. 13, at Bess, who loves Porgy but remains under the influence of her ex-boyfriend, Crown, and “happy dust” peddler Sportin’ Life. The British soprano’s Sunday matinee appearance marked her Metropolitan Opera debut.

Golda Schultz appears as Clara, who dies in a hurricane looking her husband, Jake the fisherman, in seven performances (Monday, Sept. 23; Friday, Sept. 27; Monday, Sept. 30; Saturday, Oct. 5; Thursday, Oct. 10; Tuesday, Jan. 28; Saturday matinee broadcast, Feb. 1). The South African soprano made her Metropolitan Opera debut Sept. 27, 2017, as Pamina in the opera company’s 433rd performance of Die Zauberflöte by 18th century Classical Era composer Wolfgang Mozart (Jan. 27, 1756-Dec. 5, 1791). In the 2019-2020 Met Opera season, Golda Schultz also performs as Sophie in Der Rosenkavalier by German composer Richard Strauss (June 11, 1864-Sept. 8, 1949).

Janai Brugger appears as Clara in seven of the originally scheduled 14 performances (Sunday, Oct. 13; Wednesday, Oct. 16; Wednesday, Jan. 8; Saturday, Jan. 11; Wednesday, Jan. 15; Saturday, Jan. 18; Friday, Jan. 24). She also sings Clara in the last two of February's three added performances. The American operatic soprano made her Metropolitan Opera debut Nov. 2, 2012, as Liù in the opera company’s 291st performance of Puccini’s Turandot.

Golda Schultz and Janai Brugger share Clara with Brandie Sutton, who appears in the first of February's three added performances. The American soprano's appearance as Clara Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020, marks her Met Opera debut.

Latonia Moore appears in all of the 14 originally scheduled performances as Serena, whose husband is murdered by Bess’ ex-boyfriend, Crown. She also sings Serena in the first of February's three added performances. The American soprano made her Metropolitan Opera debut Saturday, March 3, 2012, in the title role in the opera company's 1,122nd performance of Aida by 19th-century Italian opera composer Giuseppe Verdi (Oct. 10, 1813-Jan. 27, 1901).

Latonia Moore shares Serena with Karen Slack, who sings the role in the last two of February's three added performances. The American soprano had made her Met Opera debut Friday, March 17, 2006, in the title role in the opera company's 82nd performance of Verdi's Luisa Miller.

Denyce Graves appears in all of the 14 originally scheduled performances as Maria, a cookshop owner, who despises dope peddler Sportin’ Life and joins with Serena in telling Porgy that Bess has accompanied Sportin’ Life to New York. She also sings Maria in all three of February's added performances. The American mezzo-soprano made her Metropolitan Opera debut Oct. 7, 1995, in the title role in the opera company’s 828th performance of Carmen by French Romantic Era composer Georges Bizet (Oct. 25, 1838-June 3, 1875).

Frederick Ballentine appears in all of the 14 originally scheduled performances as Sportin’ Life, the dope peddler who encourages Bess’ addiction to “happy dust.” The American tenor’s appearance in the opera’s season premiere Monday, Sept. 23, marked his Metropolitan Opera debut.

Frederick Ballentine shares Sportin' Life with Chauncey Packer, who sings the role in all three of February's added performances. The American tenor had made his Met Opera debut Monday, Sep. 23, 2019, as Robbins in the new production of Porgy Bess, which numbered as the opera company's 55th performance of the Gershwins' opera.

Eric Owens appears in the title role of lovestruck Porgy in all but two (Wednesday, Jan. 8; Saturday, Jan. 11) of the 14 originally scheduled performances. He also sings Porgy in all three of February's added performances. The American operatic bass-baritone made his Metropolitan Opera debut Oct. 13, 2008, as General Groves in the Metropolitan Opera premiere of Doctor Atomic by contemporary American composer John Coolidge Adams (born Feb. 15, 1947).

Kevin Short sings Porgy in the Wednesday, Jan. 8, and Saturday, Jan. 11, performances. The American bass-baritone made his Metropolitan Opera debut Sept. 28, 1991, as a Trojan Soldier in Mozart’s Idomeneo. During the 2019-2020 Met Opera season, Kevin Short also performs as Dr. Grenvil in Verdi’s La Traviata.

Alfred Walker appears in all performances as Crown, Bess’ ex-boyfriend, whom Porgy kills. He also sings Crown in all three of February's added performances. The American bass-baritone’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened March 16, 1998, as Grégorio in the opera company’s 294th performance of Roméo et Juliette by French composer Charles Gounod (June 17, 1818-Oct. 18, 1893).

Ryan Speedo Green appears as drowned fisherman Jake in the season’s autumn performances (September, October). The American bass-baritone made his Metropolitan Opera debut Sept. 26, 2012, as a Mandarin in the opera company’s 287th performance of Puccini’s Turandot.

Donovan Singletary appears as Jake in the season’s winter performances (January, February). He also sings Jake in all three of February's added performances. The American bass-baritone made his Metropolitan Opera debut Sept. 23, 2008, as a Nazarene in the opera company’s 151st performance of Strauss’ Salome.

The 2019-2020 Met Opera season’s presentation of Porgy and Bess debuts James Robinson’s new staging. The Metropolitan Opera’s debut of Robinson’s new production also marks the American stage director’s Metropolitan Opera debut.

James Robinson’s production team comprises set designer Michael Yeargan; costume designer Catherine Zuber; lighting designer Donald Holder; and projection designer Luke Halls. Camille A. Brown is the production’s choreographer. David Leong is the production’s fight director.

The takeaway for Porgy and Bess as the Feb. 1, 2020, Met Opera Saturday matinee broadcast is that Gershwin’s American folk opera airs at 1 p.m. Eastern Standard Time as the ninth of 23 weekly radio broadcasts.

The 2019-2020 Met Opera season’s many debuts in Porgy and Bess include James Robinson’s new production as well as two principal singers (Elizabeth Llewellyn as Bess; Frederick Ballentine as Sportin’ Life): The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook Sept. 6, 2019

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

The 2019-2020 Met Opera season’s presentation of George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess debuts American stage director James Robinson’s new production: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook Sept. 10, 2019, @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532/10162438022515533/

The 2019-2020 Met Opera season’s many debuts in Porgy and Bess include James Robinson’s new production as well as two principal singers (Elizabeth Llewellyn as Bess; Frederick Ballentine as Sportin’ Life): The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook Sept. 6, 2019, @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532/10162421689760533

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"Debuts: James Robinson, Camille A. Brown, Frederick Ballentine, Chauncey Packer, Reginald Smith, Jr., Jamez McCorkle, Grant Neale, Bobby Mittelstadt, Damien Geter, Chanįe Curtis, David Leong, Arthur Woodley, Michael Lewis, Neo Randall, Jonathan Tuzo." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 357253 New Production Porgy and Bess {55} Metropolitan Opera House: 09/23/2019.
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Available @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532/10162438022515533/

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Available @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532/10162438022675533/

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Available @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532/10162421689760533/

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