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"If I am successful it will resemble a combination of the drama and romance of Carmen and the beauty of Meistersinger."

The opera "Porgy and Bess" is a challenge that the writer, George Gershwin, set for himself in July 1934 when he is already in the midst of composing his opera in collaboration with his brother Ira Gershwin and the novelist DuBose Heyward.

"Porgy and Bess" is an opera in three acts. The story is about a crippled beggar who witnesses a murder during a dice game and later gives shelter to the murderer's woman, the beautiful, haunted Bess. The Catfish Row community is united in its opposition to the union, but Porgy and Bess make each other happy, and their happiness only increases when they take in a child orphaned by a hurricane. Their happiness is brief, however. The murderer, Crown, returns for Bess, and Porgy, defending his family, kills him. The police detain him for questioning but never dream that a cripple could have been the killer, so Porgy returns triumphantly to the Row. The triumph turns to tragedy, however, when he learns that, while he was away, Sportin' Life, the dope pusher, beguiled Bess with "happy dust" and took her away to New York City to resume, it is implies, her career as a prostitute.

"Porgy and Bess" was premiered in Boston in September 1935. It was later performed in Zurich and Copenhagen in 1945 and 1946 respectively. In 1952, an all-negro company set out from the United States and toured with the opera through the capitals of Europe (notably Berlin and Vienna), ending up in London in the autumn, where they stayed until February 1953, playing to packed houses.

The opera has gorgeous songs that are an integral part of its musical fabric. And in the world of Catfish Row and Kittiwah Island it has an exotic locale and atmosphere.

"Emotional take on masterpiece - Everything is fresh and brimming with emotional commitment". - The Birmingham Post

"It bears repeating that Gershwin's masterpiece, written in a jazz language, with rhythm, texture and recitative between big numb". - The Gazette (Montreal)

"In "Porgy and Bess", Gershwin was able to combine the elements of DuBose Heyward's tale of love, jealousy, murder, racism, drug peddling and drowning to extraordinary potent effect". - The West Australian

"The freshness and honesty of "Porgy and Bess" was amazing". - The London Times

The Living Arts Inc Production, from the United States has been touring "Porgy and Bess" (condensed in two acts) since 1992 on five continents, with over 600 performances, including South America, 42 states in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Israel, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand and Cairo, Egypt to rave reviews and standing ovations. Ticket sales since 1992 have averaged over 93 per cent.

This is the first time for the thirty remarkable American opera singers and back-stage experts with live accompaniment by Hungarian Symphony Orchestra of Pecs to visit Hong Kong and to perform the opera "Porgy and Bess" this March at the Auditorium of Kwai Tsing Theatre.

Presented by Leisure and Cultural Services Department, tickets for performances from March 20 to 25 (Tuesday to Sunday) at 7.30 pm and on March 24 and 25 (Saturday and Sunday) at 2.30 pm priced at $350, $280 and $120 have already been available at all URBTIX outlets. Half-price concessions are offered for senior citizens, people with disabilities and full-time students. Other discount schemes are also available. Please refer to programme leaflets for details.

Meanwhile, Dr. Lo King-man will be invited to host two opera talks, presenting in Cantonese, on "The creative process of "Porgy and Bess"" on March 2 (Friday) and "The music and drama of "Porgy and Bess"" on March 9 (Friday) at Room ACII, Level 4, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre at 7.30 pm. The talks are of free admission and on a first-come-first-served basis.

End/Wednesday, January 31, 2001

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