George Gershwin Born: Jacob Gershwin, 26 Sep. 1898, Brooklyn, NY Died: 10 July 1937, Los Angeles, CA

(U.S. Opera Home Page)

• Blue Monday, "jazz opera" for the George White Scandals of 1922 [also called 135th Street]
• Porgy and Bess, opera in 3 acts; libretto by DuBose Heyward and Ira Gershwin after the novel Porgy by DuBose Heyward's (10 October 1935, Alvin Theater, NY)

Better known today for his musicals and popular songs, Gershwin's Porgy and Bess is one of the most successful operas of the twentieth century. Blue Moday, written during Gershwin's early years on Broadway, is more of a series of popular songs strung together with recitative.

Porgy and Bess White/Haymon, Glyndebourne/Rattle 1993 DVD: EMI. VHS: EMI.

Porgy and Bess/Blue Monday Bishop/Baker, Cincinnati Pops/Kunzel 1998. Compact disc: Telarc 80434.

Porgy and Bess. White/Haymon/Blackwell/Baker, ENO/Rattle 1997. Compact disc: Angel 56220.

Blue Monday. Bazemore/Haskin 1999. Compact disc: Aura 174.

Porgy and Bess. Willard White/Leona Mitchell/McHenry Boatwright, Cleveland Orchestra/Maazel. LP. Decca 6.35327.

Songs from Porgy and Bess, on Lawrence Tibbett: From Broadway to Hollywood. Tibbett; Met. Opera House Orchestra/Pelletier. Compact disc: Nimbus NI7881.

"Summertime" and "My man's gone now" from Porgy and Bess, on I Want Magic! American Opera Arias Renee Fleming 1998. Compact disc: Polygram 460567.