Who is telling the truth?

By Opera Views, January 30th, 2018

There is a new development in the case of ALL-WHITE-CAST  in the G. Gershwin´s “Porgy and Bess” at the Hungarian State Opera:

“According to Tams-Witmark Music Library, Inc.: The Hungarian State Opera did not receive permission to produce Porgy And Bess with a cast of Hungarian singers. “The manner in which this production of Porgy And Bess is being produced is unauthorized and is contrary to the requirements for the presentation of the work.” Source

This statement placed at the very end of the webpage of the official website of the Opera House is preceded by the earlier one, stating:

“The worldwide copyrights in the music of George and Ira Gershwin® for this presentation are licensed by the Gershwin Family.” “PORGY AND BESS® is presented by arrangement with TAMS-WITMARK MUSIC LIBRARY, INC. 560 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10022”. “GERSHWIN® is a registered trademark and service mark of Gershwin Enterprises. PORGY AND BESS® is a registered trademark and service mark of Porgy and Bess Enterprises.” Source

Production pictures and YouTube video clip, show indeed the all-white cast dressed in some sort of 70th-80th-flower-power-hippie-dread-look costumes and similar stage settings that seem to present anything else, but an African-American micro-cosmos of Catfish Row in Charleston.

Despite all of it, the Opera House achieved, as predicted here its marketing goals: all performances are well sold out with only a few seats available.

Opera Views send a request to TAMS-WITMARK MUSIC LIBRARY, INC in New York,  attempting to clarify the case. As soon as we have the answer, we will share with our audience.