Porgy and Bess contains some of the most iconic music of the twentieth century, but there is much more to this work than easy livin’ and cotton growing high. The composer George Gershwin sought to do justice to African American music in this maverick creation, but over the years, controversy and accusations of racial stereotyping have dogged his ‘folk opera’. Our concert performance with key extracts from the narrative was part of Arcola Theatre's acclaimed alternative opera festive, Grimeborn.

Vocal performances by Talia Cohen and Masimba Ushe.