Porgy and Bess

American  

[pawr-gee uhn bes] / ˈpɔr gi ən ˈbɛs /

noun

1. an opera (1935) with music by George Gershwin and lyrics by Ira Gershwin.

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Porgy and Bess Cultural  

1. An opera with music by George Gershwin. It depicts life in the African-American community of Charleston, South Carolina. Porgy is a handicapped beggar who protects Bess, only to have her leave town with a rival. The songs “Summertime” and “It Ain't Necessarily So” are from Porgy and Bess.

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Example Sentences

Among his jazz memorabilia being auctioned are saxophonist Charlie Parker's Associated Musicians Membership Card and an annotated printed score for "Porgy and Bess" by composer George Gershwin.

From Reuters • Jul. 10, 2023

As an actor, Belafonte turned down the lead in a film version of Porgy and Bess because he objected to what he considered to be the racial stereotyping of the role.

From BBC • Apr. 25, 2023

Poitier originally declined the role of Porgy, in Samuel Goldwyn's adaptation of George Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess," objecting over the stereotypical way Black characters were written in the musical.

From Salon • Jan. 7, 2022

Who, then, are Porgy and Bess if not just another pair of star-crossed lovers?

From New York Times • Nov. 1, 2021

The fact that three white men wrote Porgy and Bess caused unease at the time and has stirred a certain amount of discomfort ever since.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall