July 14, 2011

Don’t Miss Porgy and Bess in Concert with the RPO!

This Saturday, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra is bringing you Summertime in the city with an evening of fantastic music, live in air-conditioned Kodak Hall. Attire is "summer casual" for Kodak Hall concerts this summer.

On Saturday, July 16 at 8:00 pm in Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, Jeff Tyzik and the RPO will perform music by two American greats—George Gershwin and Duke Ellington. Then, after intermission, it’s highlights from Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess in concert, featuring baritone Kevin Deas, soprano Janice Chandler-Eteme, and the Rochester Oratorio Society under the direction of Eric Townell.

Originally conceived by George Gershwin as an “American folk opera,” Porgy and Bess is a unique artistic achievement that draws upon jazz, folk, and orchestral music. The opera includes several songs that have become popular standards, including “I Got Plenty o’ Nuttin’,” “Bess, You is My Woman Now," and “Summertime,” and you’ll get the chance to hear these songs, plus Gershwin’s captivating score, in this live concert performance. Click here for a video clip of Kevin Deas singing "It Ain't Necessarily So."

Internationally acclaimed bass Kevin Deas has been lauded for his "burnished sound, clarity of diction and sincerity of expression" by the Chicago Tribune. An international concert and opera performer, Deas is perhaps most acclaimed for his signature portrayal of the title role in Porgy and Bess, including performances with the New York Philharmonic and the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Soprano Janice Chandler-Eteme will take on the role of Bess, having recently performed it, with great success, at the Opera de Lyon in Lyon, Edinburgh, and London. She has been called “one of the loveliest soprano voices on earth” by the Baltimore Sun and “radiant” by the Cincinnati Enquirer.

The Rochester Oratorio Society will take on the chorus parts for a concert that is sure to be unforgettable!

Tickets for this performance start at $20 and can be purchased by calling 454-2100, or by clicking here.

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