The Philadelphia Orchestra and conductor Marin Alsop present a live recording with highlights of Gershwin’s self-proclaimed American “Folk Opera” Porgy and Bess, together with a stellar cast and the Morgan State University Choir. Since its premiere in 1935, Porgy and Bess has been one of the most significant attempts – following Antonín Dvořák’s famous instruction of 1893 – to create American classical music inspired by Afro-American styles such as jazz, spirituals and the blues. It has also proven to be a powerful catalyst for bringing more diverse casts to the opera stage. The hard-knock life at a Charleston waterfront tenement is presented here by an outstanding cast including Lester Lynch (Porgy), Angel Blue (Bess, Clara and Serena), Chauncey Packer (Sportin’ Life) and Kevin Short (Crown, Jake).

Marin Alsop is one of today’s most acclaimed conductors, and the first woman to serve as the head of a major orchestra in the United States, South America, Austria and Britain. The Philadelphia Orchestra is one of the world’s pre-eminent orchestras. Multi-award-winning soprano Angel Blue is one of the most promising voices of her generation, while Chauncey Packer is arguably one of the greatest and sought-after Sportin’ Life interpreters today. Lester Lynch and Kevin Short both enjoy a flourishing stage career, as well as a vast PENTATONE discography.

Cast:
- Bess, Clara, Serena: Angel Blue (soprano)
- Porgy: Lester Lynch (baritone)
- Sportin’ Life: Chauncey Packer (tenor)
- Crown, Jake: Kevin Short (bass-baritone)
- Maria: Alexandria Crichlow (soprano)
- Mingo: Darrin Scott (tenor)

Tracklisting:
Act 1
1. Introduction
Scene 1: Catfish Row, a Summer Evening
2. Summertime
3. A Woman is a Sometime Thing
Scene 2: Serena’s Room, the Following Night
4. Where is Brudder Robbins? He’s a Gone, Gone, Gone
5. Overflow
6. My Man’s Gone Now

Act 2
Scene 1: Catfish Row, a Month Later
7. I Got Plenty o’ Nuttin’
8. Lo’ Bess, Goin’ to Picnic?
9. Bess, You is My Woman Now
10. Oh, I Can’t Sit Down
11. Porgy, I Hates to Go
Scene 2: Kittiwah Island, Evening, the Same Day
12. It Ain’t Necessarily So
13. Hear What I Tell You
14. What You Want wid Bess?
Scene 3: Catfish Row, before Dawn, a Week Later
15. Now de Time, oh Gawd – I Loves You, Porgy

Act 3
Scene 1: Catfish Row, the Next Night
16. Andantino dolente
17. Clara, Clara – Jesus is Walkin’ on de Water
Scene 2: Catfish Row, the Next Afternoon
18. Cheer Up, Sistuh
19. There’s a Boat dat’s Leavin’ Soon for New York
20. You Low Crawlin’ Hound!
Scene 3: Catfish Row, a Week Later
21. Thank Gawd I’s Home Again!
22. Oh Lawd, I’m on My Way