Gershwin, George. (1898–1937)
Porgy and Bess
New York: Gershwin Publishing Corporation. 1935. First edition, first issue. The Theatre Guild presents Porgy and Bess. Libretto by Du Bose Heyward Lyrics by Du Bose Heyward and Ira Gershwin Settings by Sergei Soudeikine Orchestra Conductor Alexander Smallens Production Directed by Rouben Mamoulian. [Piano-vocal score]. Small folio. Original publisher's stiff printed grey wrappers with black cloth spine. 4ff. (photographic portrait; r. title, v. woodcut illustration of donkey pulling a man in a cart; r. Index of Scenes, v. Cast of Characters; r. Story of Porgy and Bess, v. dedication), 559 (music), [i] (blank) pp. Fuld p. 539. First Edition, first issue without the index of songs and without the capitalization of "Negro," in the fourth line of the story. Spine somewhat cocked, otherwise crisp and very fine copy overall of this surprisingly rare score.Porgy and Bess, a folk opera in three acts, was first performed at the Colonial Theater in Boston on September 30th 1935. It opened in New York at the Alvin Theater on October 10th of that same year. The work includes a number of Gershwin's best-known and loved tunes, including Summertime, I Got Plenty o' Nuttin, It Ain't Necessarily So and A Woman Is a Sometime Thing. (6697)
Printed Music Opera