Willard White has become synonymous with the role of
Porgy: his commanding presence yet noble vulnerability captures the
character perfectly – and what a voice! He heads the cast in both the
universally recommended recordings: Lorin Maazel’s warm and passionate,
pioneering version for Decca 4145592 (3 CDs) made in 1976; and this
wonderful Glyndebourne, Trevor Nunn realisation which could hardly be
surpassed. It was first committed to CD by EMI (CDS 5 56220 2 – 3 CDs
) in 1989. A video recording based on the Glyndebourne production but
filmed on a wider stage to open out the production was shot at Shepperton
film studios, in the Autumn of 1992 and was later released on Laserdisc
(LDD 4 91131 1) and VHS MVB 4 91131 3. This is its DVD ‘reincarnation’.
It should be understood that this is a film rather
than a theatrical presentation. This has its drawbacks as well as its
advantages. On the plus side we have an opening up of the action to
include a terrifyingly graphic storm sequence in which Clara meets her
doom as she anxiously looks out over the hurricane-tossed jetty for
signs of her husband’s doomed fishing boat. But the impact of Gershwin’s
storm music is blunted. The advantage of intimate close-ups is that
characterisation is aided. This adds luminosity through the chemistry
of Willard White and Cynthia Haymon as Bess. Although this is hardly
necessary in the case of Damon Evans’s deliciously over-the-top performance
as Sportin’ Life. He steals the show whenever he appears and his ‘It
ain’t necessarily so’ (although the sound engineering at this point
does him no favours) and ‘Listen; there’s a boat dat’s leavin’ soon
for New York’ light up the screen. The film proceeds without any natural
breaks as in the theatre; the change of scenes and acts are not flagged
up at all. This is fine for the sake of dramatic tension and continuity
but when important numbers like the Buzzard Song of Act II, Scene I
are omitted, then this reviewer for one feels cheated.
Having said all that the casting and singing right
down to the smallest part is well-nigh perfect. The set designs, costumes,
art direction and lighting all delight.
For those who are coming to the Gershwin’s opera for
the first time they are in for a fabulous treat – a heartwarming story,
tragic but never without hope; and brimming with the most wonderful,
vibrant melodies like: ‘Summertime’, ‘I got plenty of nuthin’ , ‘Bess,
you is my woman now’, ‘Oh, I can’t sit down’, ‘Oh, the train is at the
station…’, ‘Oh Lawd I’m on my way’ and the two Sportin’ Life numbers
already mentioned, plus many more.
For Gershwin enthusiasts a real treat, perfectly cast,
beautifully sung and very well staged. But in the transfer from stage
to film, purists should note that there are casualties like the omission
of the Buzzard Song.
Ian Lace
Glyndebourne Chorus 
[184 mins]