Porgy and Bess (1951 album)

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Porgy and Bess
Studio album by various
Released 1951
Recorded April 1951
Genre Opera
Length  ???
Label Decca
Producer(s) Goddard Lieberson
various chronology
Selections from George Gershwin's folk opera Porgy and Bess
(1940 & 1942)
Porgy and Bess (1951 album)
(1951)
'
()


This 1951 recording of George Gershwin's opera Porgy and Bess was the first "complete" recording of the work from beginning to end, not a series of selections of popular songs from the work. (The recording did not include most of the music written by Gershwin which had been customarily cut from productions in the United States, however.)

The recording came about as a result of Ira Gershwin's desire to bring about a recording not tied to any one production of the work, as the previous two had been. [1] It was recorded between April 5 and April 13, 1951.

The album was originally released on 3 twelve-inch 33 1/3 rpm LPs. Columbia Masterworks assigned the album the serial number OSL 162. The recording was later remastered by Naxos and re-released on CD.

[edit] Cast

  • Lawrence Winters (Porgy)
  • Camilla Williams (Bess)
  • Warren Coleman (Crown)
  • Avon Long (Sportin' Life)
  • Inez Matthews (Serena)
  • Harrison Cattenhead, tenor (Peter)
  • Hubert Dilworth, baritone (Undertaker)
  • Helen Dowdy, soprano (Maria/Lily/Strawberry Woman)
  • George Fisher, baritone (Jim)
  • William A. Glover, tenor (Mingo)
  • Eddie Matthews, baritone (Jake)
  • Sadie McGill, mezzo-soprano (annie)
  • June McMechen, soprano (Clara)
  • Irving Washington, tenor (Robbins)
  • Ray Yeats, tenor (Nelson/Crab Man)
  • J. Rosamond Johnson (Frazier)
  • Robert Carroll (Mr. Archdale)
  • George Matthews (Detective)
  • Peter Van Zant (Police Officer/Coroner)
  • John Rosamond Johnson Chorus
  • Lehman Engel Orchestra
  • Lehman Engel, conductor

[edit] References

[edit] External links


The World of Porgy and Bess

Book and play - Opera
Creators: George Gershwin - Ira Gershwin - DuBose Heyward - Dorothy Heyward
Media: Discography - Film adaptation
Songs and adaptations: "Summertime" - "Catfish Row"