Porgy and Bess Is the Met's April 23, 2022, Saturday Matinee Broadcast

Summary: Porgy and Bess is the Met's April 23, 2022, Saturday matinee broadcast, airing as the 17th of the 2021-2022 season's 24 Saturday matinee broadcasts.

Janai Brugger (Clara) joins conductor David Robertson and singers Eric Owens (Porgy), Angel Blue (Bess), Elizabeth Llewellyn (Bess), Frederick Ballentine (Sportin' Life), Alfred Walker (Crown), Ryan Speedo Green (Jake), Latonia Moore (Serena) and Denyce Graves (Maria) in role reprisals in the 2021-2022 Met Opera season's first revival of James Robinson's 2019-2020 season-debuted production of George Gershwin's American folk opera, Porgy and Bess; Met Opera banner reproduction of artwork created by American artist Kerry James Marshall for Met Opera's new production: janai brugger @JanaiBrugger, via Twitter Sep. 3, 2019

Porgy and Bess is the Met's April 23, 2022, Saturday matinee broadcast, scheduled as the 17th of 24 Saturday matinee opera broadcasts in the 2021-2022 season.

Porgy and Bess by American composer and pianist George Gershwin (Sept. 26, 1898-July 11, 1937) received 13 performances in the 2021-2022 season. The folk opera's nine autumn performances took place Sunday, Oct. 31, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time; Wednesday, Nov. 3, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, November 6, at 1:00 p.m.; Wednesday, Nov. 10, at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time; Saturday, Nov. 13, at 1:00 p.m.; Thursday, Nov. 18, at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 21, at 3:00 p.m.; Wednesday, Nov. 24, at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, Nov. 27, at 8:00 p.m. The opera's four winter performances were held Wednesday, Dec. 1, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 4, at 8:00 p.m.; Thursday, Dec. 9, at 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 12, at 3:00 p.m. The April 23 Saturday matinee opera broadcast airs one of the autumn Saturday matinees (Nov. 6 or 13).

The 2021-2022 season's performances of Porgy and Bess represented the first revival of the new Met Opera production debuted by James Robinson in the 2019-2020 season. The new production's debut Monday, Sep. 23, 2019, marked the American stage director's Met Opera debut.

David Robertson conducted the 2021-2022 season's first nine, 12th and 13th, closing performances of Porgy and Bess. He is the conductor for the April 23 Saturday matinee opera broadcast. The American conductor had made his Met 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 shared the conductorship with J. David Jackson, who conducted the 10th (Dec. 1) and 11th (Dec. 4) 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).

Eric Owens made his first reprisal of the male title role in the 2021-2022 season. The American operatic bass-baritone had made his Met Opera debut Monday, 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).

Angel Blue made her first reprisal of the female title role in the 2021-2022 season. She sang Bess in the first five and seventh through 13th, closing performances. The American operatic soprano had made her Met Opera debut Monday, Oct. 2, 2017, as Mimì in the opera company’s 1,306th performance of La Bohème by Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini (Dec. 22, 1858-Nov. 29, 1924).

Porgy and Bess numbers as the second of two Saturday matinee opera broadcasts in the 2021-2022 season for Angel Blue. She sang Destiny/Loneliness/Greta in the Jan. 8 Saturday matinee opera broadcast of Fire Shut Up in My Bones by American jazz musician and composer Terence Blanchard (born March 13, 1962).

Angel Blue shared the role of Bess with Elizabeth Llewellyn, who sang the title role in the sixth (Nov. 18) performance. The British soprano's portrayal in the sixth performance marked her first reprisal of the role in which she had made her Met Opera debut Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019.

Alfred Walker made his first reprisal of Crown, Bess's ex-boyfriend, killed by Porgy. The American bass-baritone had made his Met Opera debut Monday, 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).

Frederick Ballentine sang dope-peddling Sportin' Life. The American tenor reprised the role in which he had made his Met Opera debut Monday, Sep. 23, 2019.

Latonia Moore made her first reprisal of Serena, whose husband, Robbins, is murdered by Bess's ex-boyfriend, Crown. The American soprano had made her Met 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).

Porgy and Bess is the second Saturday matinee opera broadcast in the 2021-2022 season for Latonia Moore. She sang Billie in the Jan. 8 Saturday matinee opera broadcast of Blanchard's Fire Shut Up in My Bones.

Janai Brugger made her first reprisal of Clara, who dies in a hurricane trying to save her husband, Jake. She sang Clara in the first five and eighth through 13th, closing performances. The American operatic soprano had made her Metropolitan Opera debut Friday, Nov. 2, 2012, as Liù in the opera company’s 291st performance of Puccini’s Turandot.

Janai Brugger shared the role with Jacqueline Echols, who sang Clara in the sixth (Nov. 18) and seventh (Nov. 21) performances. The American lyric soprano had made her Met Opera debut Tuesday, Sep. 24, 2019, as Poussette in the opera company's 273rd performance of Manon by French Romantic Era composer Jules Massenet (May 12, 1842-Aug. 13, 1912).

Denyce Graves originally was scheduled to appear in all 13 performances as Maria. Her appearances marked her first reprisal as cookshop owner Maria, who joins with Serena in telling Porgy that Bess has moved to New York with Sportin' Life. The American mezzo-soprano had made her Met Opera debut Saturday, 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).

The Metropolitan Opera announced, via Twitter Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, that Tichina Vaughn would replace Denyce Graves as Maria in the evening's performance. Tichina Vaughn received two more performances as Maria via the opera company's Friday, Nov. 5, 2021, tweeted announcement of her appearances Saturday, Nov. 6, and Wednesday, Nov. 10. The American mezzo-soprano had made her Met Opera debut Wednesday, October 31, 1990, as Lily in the opera company's 45th performance of Gershwin's Porgy and Bess.

Ryan Speedo Green made his first reprisal as fisherman Jake, who drowns in a hurricane. The American bass-baritone had made his Met Opera debut Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012, as a Mandarin in the opera company’s 287th performance of Puccini’s Turandot.

The Metropolitan Opera premiere of Porgy and Bess took place Wednesday, Feb. 6, 1985. The opera received 16 performances in the 1984-1985 season.

The takeaways for Porgy and Bess as the Met's April 23, 2022, Saturday matinee broadcast are that George Gershwin's folk opera airs as the 17th of 24 Saturday matinee opera broadcasts in the 2021-2022 season; that the season's presentation marked the first revival of James Robinson's new Met Opera production, which debuted in the 2019-2020 season; that the first revival featured role reprisals by conductor David Robertson and singers Frederick Ballentine, Angel Blue, Janai Brugger, Denyce Graves, Ryan Speedo Green, Elizabeth Llewellyn, Latonia Moore, Eric Owens and Alfred Walker.

Angel Blue (Bess) and Frederick Ballentine (Sportin' Life) reprise their roles in the 2021-2022 Met Opera season's first revival of James Robinson's 2019-2020 production of George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, Facebook Jan. 29, 2020

Acknowledgment

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

Dedication

This post is dedicated to the memory of our beloved blue-eyed brother, Charles, who guided the creation of the Met Opera and Astronomy posts on Earth and Space News. We memorialized our brother in "Our Beloved Blue-Eyed Brother, Charles, With Whom We Are Well Pleased," published on Earth and Space News on Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, an anniversary of our beloved father's death.

Image credits:

Janai Brugger (Clara) joins conductor David Robertson and singers Eric Owens (Porgy), Angel Blue (Bess), Elizabeth Llewellyn (Bess), Frederick Ballentine (Sportin' Life), Alfred Walker (Crown), Ryan Speedo Green (Jake), Latonia Moore (Serena) and Denyce Graves (Maria) in role reprisals in the 2021-2022 Met Opera season's first revival of James Robinson's 2019-2020 season-debuted production of George Gershwin's American folk opera, Porgy and Bess; Met Opera banner reproduction of artwork created by American artist Kerry James Marshall for Met Opera's new production: janai brugger @JanaiBrugger, via Twitter Sep. 3, 2019, @ https://twitter.com/JanaiBrugger/status/1169001261670289410

Angel Blue (Bess) and Frederick Ballentine (Sportin' Life) reprise their roles in the 2021-2022 Met Opera season's first revival of James Robinson's 2019-2020 production of George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, Facebook Jan. 29, 2020, @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/posts/10163113644890533

For further information:

"Debut: Elizabeth Llewellyn." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 357276 Porgy and Bess {60} Matinee ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 10/13/2019.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=357276

“Debut: J. David Jackson.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 352325 Hänsel und Gretel {248} Metropolitan Opera House: 01/31/2008.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=352325

"Debut: Janai Brugger." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 354619 Turandot {291} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/02/2012.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=354619

“Debut: Latonia Moore.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 354395 Aida {1122} Metropolitan Opera House: 03/03/2012.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=354395

“Debuts: Alan Gilbert, Thomas Glenn, Eric Owens, Roger Honeywell, Meredith Arwady, Penny Woolcock, Brian MacDevitt, Andrew Dawson, Mark Grey.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 352614 Metropolitan Opera Premiere Doctor Atomic {1} Broadcast ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 10/13/2008.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=352614

“Debuts: Alexander Soddy, Angel Blue, Duncan Rock.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 356747 La Bohème {1306} Metropolitan Opera House: 10/2/2017.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=356747

“Debuts: Alfred Walker, Bertrand de Billy.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 330528 Roméo et Juliette {294} Metropolitan Opera House: 03/16/1998.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=330528

"Debuts: Brett Polegato, Jacqueline Echols, Laura Krumm, Mario Bahg." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 357255 Manon {273} Metropolitan Opera House: 9/24/2019.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=357255

“Debuts: Denyce Graves, Barbara Frittoli, Richard Bernstein.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 322060 Carmen {828} Metropolitan Opera House: 10/07/1995.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=322060

"Debuts: James Robinson, Camille A. Brown, Frederick Ballentine, Chauncey Packer, Reginald Smith, Jr., Jamez McCorkle, Grant Neale, Bobby Mittelstadt, Damien Geter, Chanáe 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.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=357253

"Debuts: Larry Marshall, Tichina Vaughn, Carmen De Lavallade (Choreographer))." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 302380 Porgy and Bess {45} Metropolitan Opera House: 10/31/1990.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=302380

“Debuts: Ryan Speedo Green, Oriada Islami Prifti.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 354549 Turandot {287} Metropolitan Opera House: 09/26/2012.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=354549

“Debuts: William Burden, David Robertson, Anthony Ward, Dona Granata, Howard Harrison.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 322990 The Makropulos Case {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 01/11/1996.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=322990

janai brugger @JanaiBrugger. "Whoo hoo! Very cool drawing of Porgy and Bess hanging in front at the Met Opera house!! Can’t wait, super excited for everyone! @MetOpera." Twitter. Sep. 3, 2019.
Available @ https://twitter.com/JanaiBrugger/status/1169001261670289410

Marriner, Derdriu. "Met Opera's 2021-2022 Season Has 28 Saturday Matinee Broadcasts." Earth and Space News. Monday, Nov. 22, 2021.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/11/met-operas-2021-2022-season-has-28.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Porgy and Bess Is the Feb. 1, 2020, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast." Earth and Space News. Monday, Jan. 27, 2020.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2020/01/porgy-and-bess-is-feb-1-2020-met-opera.html

Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. "In the upcoming performances of the Gershwins' Porgy and Bess on November 6 and 10, Maria will be sung by Tichina Vaughn, replacing Denyce Graves." Twitter. Nov. 5, 2021.
Available @ https://twitter.com/MetOpera/status/1456636688537686020

Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. "In tonight's performance of the Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, Maria will be sung by Tichina Vaughn, replacing Denyce Graves. #CastChange." Twitter. Nov. 3, 2021.
Available @ https://twitter.com/MetOpera/status/1455981442392076288

The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. "On the occasion of the Met’s historic new production of The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, American artist Kerry James Marshall created a captivating image of the title couple, currently displayed on the opera house’s façade. Porgy and Bess returns to the stage this Wednesday, January 8. Posters can be purchased from the Met Opera Shop: bit.ly/37EpIBf On stage through February 15: bit.ly/2N2aXAm Live in HD February 1:bit.ly/2SUH8Wl." Facebook. Jan. 6, 2020.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/posts/10162996039665533

The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. "This Saturday, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess—hailed the “hit of the season” by The New York Times—comes to a cinema near you. Don’t miss the landmark new production that has been a sell-out sensation at the opera house. Tony, Grammy, and Emmy Award–winner Audra McDonald hosts the highly anticipated live transmission. Learn More: bit.ly/3aSnsZM Find your theater: ‪‬‬‬‬bit.ly/2veTKh7 Photo by Ken Howard / Met Opera." Facebook. Jan. 29, 2020.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/posts/10163113644890533

“Metropolitan Opera Premiere: Porgy and Bess.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 279510 Metropolitan Opera Premiere Porgy and Bess {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 02/6/1985.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=279510

“New Production: Porgy and Bess.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 357253 New Production Porgy and Bess {55} Metropolitan Opera House: 09/23/2019.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=357253