What Did Critics Think of English National Opera's Porgy and Bess? | Playbill

The Verdict What Did Critics Think of English National Opera's Porgy and Bess? The London production is expected to subsequently head to the Metropolitan Opera in New York City in a future season.
Eric Greene, Nicole Cabell, Nmon Ford, Rheinaldt Tshepo Moagi, and the cast of Porgy and Bess Tristram Kenton

English National Opera's new production of Porgy and Bess began performances October 11, marking the first time the London company has presented the Gershwin standard.

Leading the cast of the James Robinson-helmed staging are Eric Greene as Porgy, Nicole Cabell as Bess, Nmon Ford as Crown, Latonia Moore as Serena, Nadine Benjamin as Clara, and Frederick Ballentine as Sporting Life. John Wilson conducts.

Performances are scheduled through November 17; the production, presented in partnership with the Metropolitan Opera and Dutch National Opera, is expected to play the former in the 2019–2020 season.

Read reviews for the ENO production below.

The Arts Desk (Boyd Tonkin)

The Evening Standard (Barry Millington)

Financial Times (Richard Fairman)

The Guardian (Erica Jeal)

The Independent (Michael Church)

The New York Times (Anthony Tommasini)

The Stage (Tim Bano)

The Telegraph (Ivan Hewett)

The Times (Richard Morrison)

The new staging features sets by Michael Yeargan, costumes by Catherine Zuber, lighting design by Donald Holder, video design by Luke Halls, and choreography by Dianne McIntyre.

 

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