Porgy and Bess is an English-language opera composed in 1934 by George Gershwin, with a libretto written by DuBose Heyward and Ira Gershwin from Heyward's novel Porgy and later play of the same title. Porgy and Bess was first performed in Boston on September 30, 1935, and featured an entire cast of classically trained African-American singers—a daring artistic choice at the time. After suffering from an initially unpopular public reception due in part to its racially charged theme, the Houston Grand Opera production of the opera in 1976 gained it new popularity, eventually becoming one of the best-known and most frequently performed operas.

Librettist DuBose Heyward and Ira Gershwin
Tempo Moderato e dolce
Date of composition 1935 (1934-1935) in Charleston, SC, United States
Premiered 1935, September 30th in New York, NY, United States
First published 1935, George Gershwin Music in New York, NY, United States
Type Opera
Tonality A Minor
Approx. duration 65 minutes
Spoken language English
Instruments Voice (Bass-Baritone) - Porgy, a disabled beggar
Voice (Soprano) - Bess, Crown's girl
Voice (Baritone) - Bess, Crown's girl
Voice (Tenor) - Sportin' Life, a dope peddler
Voice (Tenor) - Robbins, an inhabitant of Catfish Row
Voice (Soprano) - Serena, Robbins' wife
Voice (Baritone) - Jake, a fisherman
Voice (Soprano) - Clara, Jake's wife
Voice (Contralto) - Maria, keeper of the cook-shop
Voice (Tenor) - Mingo
Voice (Tenor) - Peter, the honeyman
Voice (Soprano) - Lily, Peter's wife
Voice (Baritone) - Frazier, a black "lawyer"
Voice (Mezzo-Soprano) - Annie
Voice (Mezzo-Soprano) - Strawberry woman
Voice (Baritone) - Jim, a cotton picker
Voice (Baritone) - Undertaker
Voice (Tenor) - Nelson
Voice (Tenor) - Crab man
Voice (Tenor) - Scipio, a small boy
Narrator, Recitant, Speaker - Mr. Archdale, a white lawyer
Narrator, Recitant, Speaker - Detective
Narrator, Recitant, Speaker - Policeman
Narrator, Recitant, Speaker - Coroner
Chorus/Choir
In listings Famous Works
Autotranslations beta George Gershwin: Porgy and Bess en la mineur
George Gershwin: Porgy and Bess in la minore
George Gershwin: Porgy and Bess a-moll