Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8618 in DVD
• Released on: 1997-05-13
• Rating: Exempt
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Classical, Colour, DVD-Video, Subtitled, PAL
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: German, French, Italian
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 184 minutes

Customer Reviews

Superb music, acting, singing and orchestral playing, but marred by production problems
I have mixed feelings about this DVD. It has some very strong points in its favour in that Gershwin's music is beautiful, the staging is excellent, the acting and singing are superb and all are backed up by the London Philharmonic Orchestra playing at their best under the baton of Sir Simon Rattle. In particular Willard White is outstandingly good as Porgy. The whole thing is well worth watching as it adds a memorable context to so many well known songs, many of which have over the years become jazz standards. (For a really different take on the main themes from Porgy and Bess, I can highly recommend the arrangements by Oscar Peterson and Joe Pass - Porgy and Bess)

The first time I watched the DVD I was a bit taken aback by the poor miming. I then thought it might not be miming and was unsure whether the camera and sound had just got slightly out of sync in filming, which is much more noticeable with singing than with speech. But having watched a coupled of times more, I am now convinced that it is miming, and not only is it quite poor miming as regards timing and facial expressions, but I think there is probably a problem with the stereo imaging of the sound. For much of the time the sound does not even seem to be coming from the same direction as the person who is supposed to be singing it, which is a little disconcerting. The orchestral sound too is very distant and also seems to be coming from elsewhere. I have tried tweaking the sound system in various ways, but have been unable to overcome this and it becomes really tedious when watching the whole opera, which lasts a little over three hours.

Overall, probably a bit below 4 star, but not enough below to round down to 3 star.

Great singing, not sure about the miming
If you want to get to know the Gershwins' 'Porgy and Bess', this is a brilliant version to watch.

Willard White is just incredible, and of course Gershwin's music throughout is just sublime. Seeing 'Summertime' (you know the one) in the context of the show sheds a completely different light on it.

The only annoyance was the poor miming (mouths and voices out of synch), and for me it was a big annoyance. But I still found myself moved from time to time.

Rattle - Porgy & Bess by Gershwin
Wonderful production, super staging and great singing of beautiful music. This is a superb modern opera, intensely moving and well worth recommending to anyone who loves good singing.