Opera News & Press

Gershwin Month

Celebrate 75 years of Porgy and Bess.

“[George] Gershwin created in Porgy and Bess a marriage of the forces of refined African-American singing talent with the soulful pathos of Jazz and Blues.” – Opera News

Bursting with some of the best melodies Gershwin ever penned – “Summertime,” “A Woman is A Sometime Thing,” “I Got Plenty O’Nuttin,” and “It Ain’t Necessarily So.” This opera depicts a world not unlike New Orleans in that the citizens of Catfish Row triumph over adversity through their faith, their sense of community and their love of life.

September 30, 2010 marks the 75th anniversary of the premiere of Porgy and Bess at the Colonial Theater in Boston. New Orleans Opera is celebrating this landmark in American music history with GERSHWIN MONTH.

Join the celebration!

September 25 - October 29, 2010

September 25 - Porgy on the Levee Kick-Off concert

Lower 9th Ward @ The Triangle, 4804 Dauphine Street

3:30pm - 6:30pm

Join the 2nd line starting at the PRC Community Center, 5200 Dauphine Street (map), as we make our way to the stage at 4804 Dauphine Street (map) with the Original Hurricane Brass Band.
Bring a picnic or purchase from the local truck vendors!

Concert Line up:
4:00: The Original Hurricane Brass Band
4:30: Choral selections from Church of Peter Claver, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Charter School, McDonough 35 College Preparatory High School, St. Anna's Episcopal Church and All Souls Episcopal Church
5:30: New Orleans Opera sings highlights from Porgy and Bess featuring Dara Rahming, soprano; Terrance Brown, baritone; Valerie Jones Francis, soprano; and Eldric Bashful, tenor.

Sponsored by: New Orleans Opera Association, Preservation Resource Center, Williams Architects, New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic, and Classic 9

September 29 – Opera on Tap

The Inn on Bourbon

7:00pm - 8:30pm

Opera on Tap is a casual, 90-minute concert featuring young local and regional opera singers. For Gershwin Month, the OOT singers will perform a selection of George Gershwin Favorites.
Read more about Opera on Tap »

October 3 – NOOA at the Saints game

12:00pm

Members of the NOOA will sing National Anthem at the Superdome before the Saints play Carolina.

October 6 – Masters Month: Irvin Mayfield interprets Porgy and Bess

Irvin Mayfield's Jazz Playhouse

8:00pm

Grammy-nominated and Billboard Award-winning Jazz trumpeter Irvin Mayfield's Masters Month series features The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra and professors from the UNO Jazz Studies Program who together highlight the works of jazz masters. Irvin has partnered with the NOOA for Gershwin Month to interpret music from each of this season's operas. This first Masters Month performance will feature Irvin Mayfield's interpretation of Porgy and Bess.
Read more about Irvin Mayfield's Jazz Playhouse in the Royal Sonesta »

October 6 – Opera on Tap

The Rusty Nail

7:00pm - 8:30pm

Opera on Tap is a casual, 90-minute concert featuring young local and regional opera singers. For Gershwin Month, the OOT singers will perform a selection of George Gershwin Favorites.
Read more about Opera on Tap »

October 7 – Opera at Ogden After Hours

The Ogden Museum of Southern Art

6:00pm - 8:00pm

The Ogden Museum's weekly performance series is held every Thursday at the Museum. The NOOA is thrilled to be a part of this series as several cast members will perform highlights from Porgy and Bess and participate in a Q&A about the opera.
Tickets are $10 (free for Museum Members) and can be purchased at the door.
Read more about Ogden After Hours »

October 12 – WWNO presents “By George! Banu Gibson sings the songs of George Gershwin”

Le Chat Noir

8:00pm

New Orleans jazz singer Banu Gibson will feature the songs of George Gershwin in Le Chat Noir’s intimate cabaret setting. Known for her fresh renditions of timeless classics from the Great American Songbook, Banu and her band have performed on stages across Europe and the United States, from the Hollywood Bowl to Boston's Symphony Hall. Le Chat Noir offers reserved table seating and a full bar. Tickets are $30 each, including $5 bar credit, and can be purchased by calling 504-581-5812 or online at www.CabaretLeChatNoir.com.
Read more about "By George!" and Le Chat Noir »

October 12 - Masters Month: Victor Atkins interprets The Magic Flute

Irvin Mayfield's Jazz Playhouse

8:00pm

Grammy-nominated and Billboard Award-winning Jazz trumpeter Irvin Mayfield and professors from the UNO Jazz Studies Program interpret music from each of this season's operas.
Victor “Red” Atkins' style of piano has been described as "infectious, unconventional, tasteful, and powerful" all at the same time. Hailing from Selma, Alabama, he began playing with Delfeayo Marsalis in 1989 and was an integral part of the seminal work “Pontius Pilate’s Decision.”
Read more about Irvin Mayfield's Jazz Playhouse in the Royal Sonesta »

October 15 & 17 – NOOA presents Porgy and Bess

The Mahalia Jackson Theater

8:00 PM October 15, 2:30 PM October 17

A Nuts and Bolts lecture from Stage Director Tazewell Thompson will be held one hour prior to curtain at the theater.
Read more about the New Orleans Opera Association's production of Porgy & Bess »

October 19 – Masters Month: Ed Petersen interprets The Pearl Fishers

Irvin Mayfield's Jazz Playhouse

8:00pm

Grammy-nominated and Billboard Award-winning Jazz trumpeter Irvin Mayfield and professors from the UNO Jazz Studies Program interpret music from each of this season's operas.
Edward Petersen is the Associate Chair of Music and Coordinator of Jazz Studies at the University of New Orleans where he teaches Applied Saxophone, Jazz Improvisation and directs the University of New Orleans Louis Armstrong Quintet.
Read more about Irvin Mayfield's Jazz Playhouse in the Royal Sonesta »

October 26 – Masters Month: Steve Masakowski interprets Il Trovatore

Irvin Mayfield's Jazz Playhouse

8:00pm

Grammy-nominated and Billboard Award-winning Jazz trumpeter Irvin Mayfield and professors from the UNO Jazz Studies Program interpret music from each of this season's operas.
Steve Masakowski has long been regarded as one of the top Jazz artists from New Orleans. Born and raised in New Orleans, Steve has played guitar with most of the city's greatest musicians including Alvin "Red" Tyler, Ellis Marsalis, Earl Turbinton, and James Black.
Read more about Irvin Mayfield's Jazz Playhouse in the Royal Sonesta »

October 29: Master Month: Master Class & informance

The University of New Orleans Performing Arts Center, Room 103
1:00pm

UNO professors Victor Atkins, Ed Petersen and Steve Masakowski will discuss the process of interpreting this season's operas in order to create original Jazz music. Excerpts from each commission will be performed.