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

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

From New York Times • Nov. 1, 2021

Abbie Mitchell is the person who originally sang "Summertime" in the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess, but Janis Joplin's cover is probably the best-known version.

From Salon • Sep. 4, 2021

Set in a poverty- and drug-stricken African-American fishing community in the South, Porgy and Bess was notable for its sympathetic but clear-eyed portrayal of underclass life.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall