Pre-concert 6:15 PM Performance in the Foyer by The Loretta C. Manggrum Chorale
Pre-concert 6:30 PM Conversation in Corbett Tower with Jason Alexander Holmes, Dr. Kristi Swift and Dr. Tammy Kernodle
Don't miss a moment of the 2026 May Festival: visit mayfestival.com/calendar to view the full lineup of events!
Thursday, May 22, 2025, 7:30 pm
Cincinnati Music Hall
Anthony Parnther, conductor
Julia Bullock, soprano
Alfred Walker, bass-baritone
May Festival Chorus, Matthew Swanson, director
May Festival Youth Chorus, Jason Alexander Holmes, director
Classical Roots Community Choir
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The concert experience doesn’t end with the final note! These questions are offered to enrich your experience and encourage conversation.
• How does this presentation of Porgy and Bess shape your understanding of its characters, themes and legacy?
• How do the different composers on this program express the ideas of resilience and community? •What does it mean to end the Festival by singing together?
• How does that shared experience change your role as an audience member?
The Gershwins®’ PORGY AND BESS® (excerpts)*
George Gershwin, DuBose and Dorothy Heyward, and Ira Gershwin
Introduction
Jasbo Brown Blues
Summertime
A Woman is a Sometime Thing
Oh Little Stars
Gone, Gone, Gone
My Man’s Gone Now
Leavin’ for the Promise’ Lan’
It Take a Long Pull to Get There
I Got Plenty o’ Nuttin’
The Buzzard Song
’Lo, Bess, Goin’ to the Picnic
Bess, You is My Woman Now
Oh, I Can’t Sit Down
I Ain’t Got No Shame
It Ain’t Necessarily So
Lemme Go
I Wants to Stay Here / I Loves You, Porgy
There’s a Boat Dat’s Leavin’ Soon for New York
Catfish Row Interlude
Porgy Comin’ Home
Bess, Oh, Where’s My Bess?
Oh, Lawd, I’m On My Way
INTERMISSION
William Grant Still (1895-1978) Katherine Garrison Chapin, Poet
Plain Chant for America
Stephen Paulus (1949-2014)
Prayers and Remembrances
V. In Beauty It Walks
VI. Eternity
Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990)
"Make Our Garden Grow", Finale from Act 2 of Candide
Encore:
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) Ebenezer Prout, Orchestrator
"Hallelujah Chorus" from Messiah
Tonight’s concert will last approximately 125 minutes.
*PORGY AND BESS is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Tams-Witmark LLC.
www.concordtheatricals.com
The worldwide copyrights in the music of George and Ira Gershwin® for this presentation are licensed by the Gershwin Family.
GERSHWIN is a registered trademark and service mark of Gershwin Enterprises. PORGY AND BESS is a registered trademark and service mark of Porgy and Bess Enterprises.
The videotaping or making of electronic or other audio and/or visual recordings of this production and distributing recordings or streams in any medium, including the internet, is strictly prohibited, a violation of the author(s)’s rights and actionable under United States copyright law. For more information, please visit www.concordtheatricals.com/resources/protecting-artists.
Special thanks to these generous sponsors who bring the May Festival to life!
The 2026 Festival Director Julia Bullock is sponsored by A Friend of the May Festival.
The Director of Choruses Matthew Swanson is sponsored by Sherry and Mark Holcomb.
The 2026 Premier Partner sponsor is Carol and Scott Kosarko.
The 2026 May Festival is presented by Fort Washington Investment Advisors.
The 2026 May Festival is sponsored by Chavez Properties.
Tonight’s concert is sponsored by John and Susan Tew.
The appearance of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra is generously supported by the Louise Dieterle Nippert Musical Arts Fund of the Greenacres Foundation.
The appearance of Julia Bullock as soprano is sponsored by Barbara Ann Feldmann.
The appearance of soloist Alfred Walker is sponsored by Christy and Terry Horan.
The May Festival Floral Sponsor is Chris and Beth Canarie.
Tonight’s pre-concert conversation is sponsored by Drs. William Hurford and Lesley Gilbertson.
WGUC is the Media Partner for these concerts. This concert will air on 90.9 WGUC on October 25, 2026, followed by 30 days of streaming at mayfestival.com/replay.
Steinway Pianos, courtesy of Willis Music, is the official piano of the May Festival.
Support the May Festival with a gift today!
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Discover all of the benefits of giving and learn more about sponsorship opportunities to support the May Festival at mayfestival.com/support.
The Black Composer and the Question of American Musical Nationalism
2026 May Festival Program Book
Travel to through time and explore the foundational Black artists of the American musical canon.
