“Porgy and Bess” in the Liceu
The jazz opera featuring the music of George Gershwin can be seen from the 11th to the 19th of July
From the 11th to the 19th of July the Gran Teatre del Liceu will host the jazz opera, Porgy and Bess, featuring the music of George Gershwin, the composer of other well-known classics such as Rhapsody in Blue and An American in Paris, and the libretto by Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward, based on their own, previously published novel and play.
The opera fuses Afro-American rhythms such as jazz, gospel and blues in an effort to provide an insight into the various characters and reveal the anger and desperation and also the love that governs their lives. One of Gershwin’s most popular songs is “Summertime”.
The opera takes place in the outskirts of Charlestown, in South Carolina, USA, where jazz and blues chords and melodies give voice to the protagonists’ innermost feelings. Over nearly three hours, the performance reveals the hidden reality of North American society at the time, where poverty and the lack of scruples lead the characters towards their own destruction. Among them, however, Porgy is the only one who really fights for what he loves, and he will do whatever he can to help Bess redeem herself and break away from the bad company she keeps.
The version of Porgy and Bess on show from the 11th to the 19th of July in the Liceu is produced by the Cape Town Opera Company and ticket prices range from 9 to 139 euros. To purchase tickets and consult show times, follow this link.