05/22/2013
Congrats Jarvis, Cast & Crew, amazing performance!
Rutland Herald review of Porgy and Bess in Concert by Jim Lowe.
So it was a most pleasant surprise to find this fine music in tiny Barnard, albeit in a concert of highlights with piano accompaniment, but sung by professional African-American singers.
BarnArts Center for the Arts offered a fine performance of favorites from the Gershwin opera as well as some familiar African-American spirituals.
“Porgy and Bess,” with a libretto by Dubose Heyward and lyrics by Heyward and Ira Gershwin, premiered in Sept. 30, 1935, opening on Broadway on. Oct. 10. Although for many years not considered “real opera,” the Houston Grand Opera introduced it in 1976, with the Metropolitan Opera adding it to its repertoire nine years later.
Set in fictitious “Catfish Row,” “Porgy and Bess” takes place in the slums of Charleston, S.C. Porgy, a disabled beggar, attempts to rescue Bess from the clutches of Crown, her violent and possessive lover, and Sportin’ Life, the drug dealer. Gershwin’s music mixes African-American folk styles with that of the contemporary jazz age, creating a compelling and authentically American score.
BarnArts’ concert of highlights Friday benefited from some particularly fine singing. Soprano Jasmine Thomas sang brilliantly as Bess, ranging from rich mellifluous low notes to brilliant resonating high ones. Her “Summertime” was a tour de force of beautiful singing and authentic passion.
Cameron Bernard Jones lent his rich bass-baritone to Porgy, offering a charming and witty performance of “I Got Plenty of o’ Nuttin.” But it was “I Loves You Porgy,” with Thomas’ Bess, that tore at the heartstrings with rich sonorities and deep tenderness.
Baritone Barry Robinson had ideal charisma, both vocally and personally, for Crown, with Thomas, in “What You Want Wild Bess?” Tenor Ken Altson Jr., as Sportin’ Life, fairly oozed out “It Ain’t Necessarily So.”
The BarnArts Chorale joined the soloists in the effective choruses. Andy Roninson was the able pianist in this effervescent and powerful performance.
Fortunately, neither the mikes nor the photographer were part of the second half, a series of popular spirituals. They were beautifully performed by the “Porgy” singers, solo, in duet and en masse.
Jones, previously Porgy, delivered a deeply affecting performance of Howard Swanson’s dark “The Negro Speaks of Rivers.” Tenor Ernest Jackson offered a powerful “Were You There?” (arr. Roninson). And beautiful tenderness marked Great Is Thy Faithfulness” with soprano Tesia Kwarteng, Robinson and the choir.
Friday’s concert was an unusual sociological experience for nearly all-white Vermont but, more importantly, it was a deeply affecting musical one.
