Porgy and Bess

Japanese: ポーギーとベス

An opera composed by Gershwin. Set in the black neighborhoods of Charleston, South Carolina in the 1930s, it depicts the tragic love story of a black man and woman. It was composed in 1934-1935 based on a dramatization of the novel Porgy (1925) by American novelist and playwright DuBose Heyward (1885-1940) and his wife, screenwriter Dorothy. The libretto was written by the Heyward couple, and the lyrics by DuBose Heyward and Ira Gershwin, the composer's brother. It premiered at the Colonial Theater in Boston in September 1935, and in New York the following month at the Alvin Theater on Broadway. It is a groundbreaking work that blends together elements of classical music, jazz, and black folk music, but because of its originality, the New York premiere was met with a lack of understanding from critics. Since then, the original version (a shortened version at the time of the premiere) has been performed and has gradually gained acclaim, becoming the first American opera to be performed at La Scala in Milan. Fifty years after its premiere, it was also performed at the Metropolitan Opera House (1985), and has established a reputation as one of the greatest masterpieces of 20th century opera. Many hit numbers, such as "Summertime," are loved by people of all genres. The complete work was first performed in Japan in 1991.

Source : Heibonsha Encyclopedia About MyPedia Information

Japanese:

ガーシュウィン作曲のオペラ。1930年代のサウス・カロライナ州チャールストンの黒人街を舞台に，黒人男女の悲恋を描く。米国の小説家・劇作家デュボーズ・ヘイワード〔1885-1940〕の小説《ポーギー》（1925年）を著者とその妻で脚本家のドロシーが劇化した作品をもとに，1934年−1935年に作曲された。台本はヘイワード夫妻，作詞はデュボーズ・ヘイワードと作曲者の兄のアイラ・ガーシュウィン。1935年９月ボストンのコロニアル劇場で初演，翌月ブロードウェーのアルビン劇場でニューヨーク初演。クラシック音楽とジャズ，黒人民俗音楽の要素が渾然(こんぜん)一体となった画期的な作品だが，その斬新(ざんしん)さゆえニューヨーク初演は批評家の無理解にさらされた。その後，オリジナル版（初演時は短縮版）による上演により次第に評価を高め，米国のオペラとして初めてミラノのスカラ座でも上演。初演から50年を経てメトロポリタン歌劇場でも上演（1985年）され，20世紀オペラの最高傑作の一つとして評価が定着した。《サマー・タイム》など，ジャンルを超えて愛唱されるヒット・ナンバーも多い。日本での全曲初演は1991年。

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