George Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess” is often called “The Great American Opera.” Yet, 85 years after its premiere, the piece continues to raise questions about racial representation and cultural appropriation.
The Atlanta Opera will present “Porgy and Bess” from March 7-15 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. There will be a pre-opera discussion before each performance with Dr. Uzee Brown Jr., Morehouse professor of voice. He’ll talk about the history and social context in which the story takes place.
“City Lights” host Lois Reitzes recently spoke with Morris Robinson who portrays Porgy in this production. He began their conversation by explaining why he hesitated to play this role for 17 years of his career.
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