Met books 3 more Porgys

Met books 3 more Porgys

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norman lebrecht

December 05, 2019

For the first time in Peter Gelb’s experience, the Metropolitan Opera actually has a sellout hit.

So he’s added 3 more shows.

JUST ANNOUNCED: We’re adding three additional performances of The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess—starring bass-baritone Eric Owens and soprano Angel Blue—on February 4, 12, and 15! Don’t miss you’re chance to see this season’s electrifying new production of one of America’s greatest operas. Tickets go on sale Monday, December 9, at 12PM ET.

Comments

  • An opinionated person says:

    Akhnaten also sold out its run. So he’s had two sell out productions within the past 3 months.

    • Brian says:

      I agree that the Glass opera has been equally popular in its run, which ends tomorrow. But Akhnaten would be a more difficult production to bring back next year, and it’s not just about keeping the jugglers around. Though Kamensek did a nice job of leading the musicians, the music is clearly challenging for the orchestra, and all the other elements of the complex design and production would be difficult to remount later.

      It was a great show, and I hope it opened some eyes to the depth and texture of some extraordinary music that had gone ignored by that house for some 35 years.

      • MacroV says:

        I’m sure the musicians could handle another run of it. And if it has been so popular, it will certainly make sense to revive it.

  • debuschubertussay says:

    Might as well just make this an annual thing, like a Zeffifelli Boheme or something.

  • Dalledu Alletre says:

    Lucrative Broadway show not properly named or properly credited to its actual creators:

    music by George Gershwin
    libretto by DuBose Heyward
    lyrics by DuBose Heyward and Ira Gershwin
    after the play by Dorothy Heyward and DuBose Heyward

    Does Gelb get a kickback from the Gershwin Estate for this so-called “The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess” perhaps?

  • Sigh says:

    “You’re” chance?

  • V. Lind says:

    This text actually went out from the Met? Saying “Don’t miss you’re [sic] chance”?????

    After Sexual harassment class, they might take their administrators aside for spelling lessons.

    • Petros LInardos says:

      From the MET’s FB:
      “Don’t miss your chance to see this season’s electrifying new production of one of America’s greatest operas. ”

      Either they corrected it or the misspelling was in the above quote.

      • V. Lind says:

        That’s why I put a question mark. This, after all, is the site where only the other day there was a headline, so definitely “in-house,” including the word “harrassment.” After the major topic of recent months, it was quite a shock to see anything so egregious. Also I had trouble with my computer even letting me cite that mis-spelling!

  • Mustafa Kandan says:

    It is bit like a musical. Such works tend to sell out.

    • Hal Sacks says:

      Peter Gelb attended Yannick’s staged “Candide” with Erin Morley, Denyce Graves, Alex Shrader and Kurt Vortmann and the Philadelphia Orchestra last June. BradleyCooper and Carey Mulligan were the narrators. I felt then that within 2 years Gelb and Yannick would do a fully staged Candide at the Met. I still feel it may happen. John Lithgow as Dr. Pangloss??.

    • MWnyc says:

      This version of Porgy and Bess is no more like a musical than Bizet is.

  • Bob Goldsmith says:

    Worth acknowledging that both opera productions were initiated by English National Opera, who perhaps deserve a better press here.

  • Ken says:

    So far as I can tell, the Met’s announcement reads, “Due to overwhelming public demand for the Met’s acclaimed new production of Porgy and Bess, three additional performances have been added to the schedule, on February 4 (7:30 PM), 12 (7:30 PM), and 15 (8 PM), 2020. The majority of the original cast will return for the additional performances, including the leads, Eric Owens and Angel Blue. The performance on February 4 will be conducted by J. David Jackson, and the performances on February 12 and 15 by David Robertson. Tickets go on sale December 5 for Patrons (by calling 212-501-3460), December 7 for Members and Subscribers, and December 9 for the general public.” Not a “you’re” in sight.

  • MacroV says:

    Assuming that the marginal revenue of the additional shows exceeds the marginal cost of staging them, it certainly makes sense.

    But how did the MET have three free days, when they have a show every day but Sunday?

  • Ivy Lin says:

    This is wonderful news. It’s a beautiful opera and although I already have a ticket for the winter run I know many people are dying for tickets and now have the chance to see it.

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