Gershwin: Porgy and Bess
NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra / NDR Vokalensemble / Soloists – Hamburg International Music Festival
Tragic Heroes
The sun is shining, the fish are jumping and the cotton is ripe for picking – how easy life could be! However, the wistful music of »Summertime« suggests that that is merely a wishful dream. Because the world of the tragic heroes Porgy and Bess from George Gershwin’s opera of the same name is anything but easy. In the black neighbourhood of Catfish Row in Charleston, where the story is set, violence and crime are the grim reality of day-to-day life. Despite their difficult circumstances, the disabled Porgy and young Bess stick together – even as they look to an uncertain future.
»Porgy and Bess«, once described by the New York Times as an »American folk opera«, is without doubt one of the most moving music theatre works of all time. That is down to the touching story of the two protagonists and the numerous amazing melodies, many of which became hits independently of the opera – foremost among them, the unforgettable »Summertime«, possibly the most-performed jazz standard in music history. The performance under NDR chief conductor Alan Gilbert follows spectacular Music Festival productions such as György Ligeti’s »Le Grand Macabre«, and is one of the biggest highlights of the season.
Programme (booklet)
Performers
NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester
NDR Vokalensemble und Gäste
Kevin Short Porgy
Adrienne Danrich Bess
Lester Lynch Crown
Chauncey Packer Sportin Life
Nicole Cabell Clara
Mary Elizabeth Williams Serena
Zolina Ngejane mezzo-soprano
Adriana Bignagni Lesca mezzo-soprano
Ernestine Stuurman soprano
Kenneth Overton Jake, Lawyer Frazier
Cameo Humes Robbins, Mingo, Peter, Crab Man
Luvo Rasemeni baritone
Kenneth Kula baritone
conductor Alan Gilbert
Programme
The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess
von George Gershwin, DuBose und Dorothy Heyward und Ira Gershwin
von George Gershwin, DuBose und Dorothy Heyward und Ira Gershwin
Concertante performance in English
Pre-Concert Talk (in German)
18:00 / Elbphilharmonie, Großer Saal
Estimated end time
22:19
Promoter: HamburgMusik / NDR
Location
:
Elbphilharmonie
Großer Saal
Heart of the Elbphilharmonie: the Grand Hall seats 2,100 guests in the »vineyard« style. The stage for artists and orchestras is situated at the centre of the concert hall and is surrounded by terraced seating.
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Arrival time
The Elbphilharmonie is a special building situated in a special place. Allow for plenty of time for getting to the Elbphilharmonie and the way to the concert area. We suggest visitors arrive at the Elbphilharmonie Plaza not later than 30 minutes before the start of the concert or event. Late seating is not guaranteed and latecomers may not be admitted to the concert hall.
Concert tickets for the Grand and Recital Halls authorise a visit to the Plaza from two hours before the start of the concert or event. Visitors to the Kaistudios require a separate Plaza ticket to visit the Plaza.
Admission times:
Events without pre-concert talk:
Grand Hall Foyer: 60 minutes before the start of the event
Grand Hall: 30 minutes before the start of the eventEvents with pre-concert talk:
Grand Hall Foyer: 90 minutes before the start of the event
Grand Hall: 15 minutes before the start of the talkIf a pre-concert talk is offered for this event, it is noted above under PROGRAMME.
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Finding your seat
All visitors enter the building via the main entrance. Admission takes place in the entrance foyer and is by concert ticket only. The »Tube«, an 82-metre-long, curved escalator, leads visitors up to the Plaza following admission.
From the Plaza, access to the concert foyers is via stairs and lifts. The main cloakroom is situated on the 11th floor and the hall entrances are on floors 12, 13, 15 and 16. Please follow signs to the area in which your designated seat is located, as indicated on your ticket.
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Seat preview
Are you curious to find out what kind of view of the stage different seats have? To help select your favourite seat, use your mouse to activate the representative seat views.
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Cloakroom
Walking-stick umbrellas, handbags sized A3 (42 cm x 30 cm) or above, sport bags, backpacks, luggage and other bulky items must be checked in at the cloakroom. Wheeled walkers may be stored at the hall entrances. Prams can be left with the service personnel on the Plaza. There are additional lockers in the corridor leading to the ticket shop/box office on the ground floor/entrance area.
Jackets or coats and small handbags may be taken into the hall.
Cloakroom fee: €2
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Coughing, clapping, chatting – Recommendations for sensitive acoustics
A concert at the Elbphilharmonie is a unique experience for both audience and artists. Guests and musicians alike rave about the precise acoustics in the Grand Hall. You can hear every note, even from the highest balcony.
Unfortunately, the opposite is also true: even presumably quiet noises from the audience are clearly audible in the entire hall. We therefore ask our visitors to take the following recommendations into consideration, because »Everything Can Be Heard Here«.
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Getting here
Elbphilharmonie Hamburg
Platz der Deutschen Einheit
20457 HamburgThe Elbphilharmonie can be easily reached by bus, underground, bicycle and ferry.
The nearest stops include:
Underground line U3: Baumwall
Underground line U4: Überseequartier
Bus 2, 111: Am Kaiserkai (Elbphilharmonie)
Bus 6: Auf dem Sande (Speicherstadt)
Ferry 72 (from Landungsbrücken pier): »Elbphilharmonie« pier
StadtRAD (bicycle sharing system) stations: U Baumwall (Elbphilharmonie) and Am Kaiserkai / Großer GrasbrookMultistorey car park in the Elbphilharmonie (open 24/7, 435 parking spaces):
Please note that visitors to the Elbphilharmonie should use the entrance marked »Elbphilharmonie«. The entrance »Elbphilharmonie Hotel« is reserved for »The Westin Hamburg« hotel guests.Please find more information about prices and advance booking of the discounted flat rate on this page: arrival by car
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Accessibility
All halls and spaces are accessible for visitors with disabilities. More information at www.elbphilharmonie.de/en/accessibility.
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Photography and video recordings
It is forbidden to take photographs or record videos during a concert or event. Video recordings and photography are permitted for private purposes only on the Plaza and in the foyers as well as before the start or following an event in the concert hall, provided that you respect the privacy of other visitors and do not interfere with regular business operations. Employees may not be photographed or filmed.
Photography, audio or video recordings of concerts and events are strictly prohibited.
Event-related video recordings or photographs for editorial or commercial purposes must be authorised by the Press Office of the Elbphilharmonie.

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