Bess, You Is My Woman Now

From Trevor Nunn's 1993 operatic revival of The Gershwins' Porgy & Bess. In this heart-warming scene, Porgy (Willard White) declares his feelings for Bess (Cynthia Haymon) who finally realizes, embraces, and declares her feelings for him. Back Story: After everyone in the hamlet of Catfish Row understandably turned their backs on Bess (the then wild and loose girlfriend of the murderer Crown), Porgy - the village cripple - takes her in. What follows is a Bess' transformation into a lady. However, she still doesn't have feelings for Porgy until this magical exchange. Enjoy!

[@YThome7]

On his score Gershwin wrote "to be performed by Black cast only", and he was correct. And this is absolutely the best.

[@joseanfigueroa8785]

foolish racist...

[@deadmeme1296]

@@joseanfigueroa8785 ???? Lmao ????

[@jeromedinchong5278]

Because of the deep,resonant and rich texture of the voice associated with the cast George demanded.

[@wychwoodmusic]

@@joseanfigueroa8785 You're projecting again

[@jefflax100]

Actually a courageous musical genius with true friends in 1920's Harlem. Gershwin had the courage to focus on a cultural world of its own (African Am. Charleston region) with someone else's book and authentically make it into an opera for the ages. There had also been no "colored" in opera (1927). This brilliant work was not even well-received back then. But times change, gracias a dios. Would we make the movie "Glory" with white or Asian actors? Of course not...If people studied history with an open mind, we'd be better informed and less hostile.

[@lynn8735]

One of my favorite operas ever... so beautiful, and so deeply touching. And this performance is so perfect the very first notes brought tears to my eyes. I don't think I've ever heard anything more beautiful. Just as beautiful? Yes. More beautiful? No.

[@Dylonely42]

This is a such unique duet… the greatest ever composed in my humble opinion and I agree, it probably can not get more beautiful thank this.

[@windstorm1000]

one of the great duets of all time--Puccini would have loved it...incredibly moving, beautiful, expansive American melody...always brings tears to my eyes...

[@chevydude658]

Oh you said it! Very true.

[@abkquan]

Agreed, especially as it is so beautifully performed here. I assume this is the Glynebourne production conducted by Rattle. There is also Sam & Rose's superb love duet "We'll go away together" in another great Broadway Opera - Kurt Weill's Street Scene.

[@caraberton4537]

​joey...I will pray for you from Heaven and Earth

[@stevenhaff3332]

You hear this score and are simply amazed at Gershwin's profound sense of music as emotional power.

[@SmartStart24]

This entire piece is gorgeous, but the “mornin time and evenin time” part is so effing pretty omg!

[@johncrawfordpiano]

At 4'50" the outside world ceases to exist, and I'm transported by these wonderful singers to another place.

[@cheryledelman4457]

beautifully said John. I could not have said it that poetically!

[@mtrlaux1029]

I can barely watch this without tearing up. So many emotions tied to this piece for ages now.

[@cdarw]

Mtr Laux I am right there with you!

[@1849ad]

Can only agree. Mostly watching metal and folklore music, my wife looks at me right now like, what's wrong with you?

[@donaldsaigh8785]

@@1849ad Metal and folklore don't have the gut-wrenching, soul-stirring power of this song, or the entire opera.

[@MFYouTube683]

@@donaldsaigh8785 I think it’s a fair generalization but still, the genres are not comparable. The training and skill this monumental work requires from musicians and its cultural significance historically both today and from when it was first performed is so far beyond 99% of commercialized folk and metal but there are a few exceptions which are of course colossally dominated by T. Holopainen and his band Nightwish. But with Summertime being one of the great American Jazz and Pop Culture hymns that most children in a big part of the world know already, the Gershwins are omnipresent even when people aren’t watching the entire stage work.

[@donaldsaigh8785]

@@MFKZbin683 You'll get no argument here.

[@Dan474834]

One of the most moving aspects of this duet is the juxtaposition of incredibly sophisticated music with incredibly unsophisticated but tender lyrics.

[@jcatenor]

There is nothing unsophisticated about these lyrics.

[@libertybabe6086]

So beautiful and their eyes and voices, So gorgeous!!

[@Catherineshanghai]

Magnifique jeu d’acteurs et d’interprétation musicale ! 👏🏻👏🏻

[@richardwible4938]

I am old enough to remember when William Warfield and Leontyne Price played these rolls, and I thought their performance was wonderful, but this rendition by Willard White and Cynthia Haymon left me stunned. Haymon's voice is sweet and bright; Willard's voice is powerful yet still conveys the deep, heartfelt sentiment of the lyrics. Even the acting and the sincerity of the facial gestures were convincing. Bravissimo!

[@jacobmorris3664]

I doubt it can be done better.

[@JoseMurillo-ki6yx]

I remember also Warfield and Price, and then these wonderful Cynthia Haymos and Willard White.Really stunning!

[@johnrogers7542]

Extraordinarily fine singing. One of the great duets of all time. Thank you!

[@643manning]

I live in Charleston, SC. just a short walk away from The real PORGY'S grave site. I was there today. IT's on the property of the Presbyterian Church on Folly Rd. on James Island. Looking at the grave made my interest soar. This is beautiful.

[@sethdavid7476]

+Manning Harvey Charlestonian Samuel Smalls grave?

[@cdarw]

I get a constant stream of chills every time I watch this duet!

[@jameswalton3930]

Beautiful, a man and a woman confessing their sincere love for each other in the raw, despite their own past history and failings, what a composition, what a performance. America thanks you Mr. Ira and George Gershwin, and Mr. Dubois Haywood, a true Masterpiece.

[@christineperri143]

I can't help but smile thru this entire song. It's always been my favorite from Porgy & Bess. I grew up on these beautiful operas and wish the young generation would see them. Can't wait for tonight as Porgy & Bess is actually on TV !!!!

[@WakandaBabe]

This music is so hauntingly beautiful. My favorite in this opera.

[@arthurharrison1345]

This is among the best documented renditions of Porgy and Bess in history, not just because of the magnificent vocal performances, but also because of the technical details of the production.

[@brucer9572]

This guy has arms on him that could bend your head into a pretzel, but look how gentle he is with her!

[@christopherpericolosi-king4979]

These voices are incredible!!! Gershwin was a genius!

[@studentoftheword6115]

This must be one of the hardest pieces to sing. When they both sang at once. They are singing two different parts but so MASTERFULLY composed by Gershwin. The parts just go together. (If you can find two singers that can split their brain as their sining - like these have - It comes out beautifully!)

[@chevydude658]

Willard White! I am a new fan. I am moved to tears with this performance. I am just speechless because it's so beautiful. It's just a masterpiece.

[@janettylerlummer3925]

Willard and Cynthia are amazing in these roles. Both have gorgeous voices and the acting is wonderful as well.

[@Gxyz222]

MAGNIFICENT! I wish Hollywood would still revisit these classics(musicals), cause films like Porgy and Bess have a power that no CGI rendered affect can ever live up to.

[@Camarggio]

Breathtaking. I've known this song for years but never watched it being performed in the real opera. It brought tears to my eyes.......

[@HelenaWilliams8696]

"Bess, You Is My Woman Now" is simply MAGNIFICENT!

[@olallacruzfernandez7211]

you are right... even I use this duet (among other materpieces, of course) when I am explaining "the human voice and its classification" to my students of the 1st course of the compulsory secondary school in spain... first I aks for them to pay attention to the tittle of the duet "bess, you 'is' my woman now", instead of "you are", just as would correspond with the flexion of the plural forms of the present tense of verb "to be"... then, I explain them that this irregularity is due to in order to to point out the hummble origin of the protagonists because the opera is set in the charlestone town during the slavery period of the south carolina and, surely, gershwin used this pronuntiation in order to point out the origin of the protagonists who, because of being black skin people, have not been able to access to school or good training in that US state at that moment of the 20th century...

[@XX-gy7ue]

ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL LOVE DUETS IN THE HISTORY OF SOUND ! SPECTACULAR !

[@dwetick1]

I believe this is the best Porgy & Bess on U-tube...wonderful!

[@harlan33401]

It is simply wonderful. The best I have heard.

[@DabneyFountain]

Astounding!!! What beauty for which words do not suffice. Perfection. Thanks for posting this American treasure for the ages.

[@worldlyconcerns]

RIP the great George Martin, producer of The Beatles, who passed away earlier today: this sublime song was one of his very favorites.

[@peterk.6093]

Shocked by the beauty! You both is my favorite actors and singers now!

[@billkneller4410]

Isaw this performed in London 1953 cab Calloway Dorothy dandriidge still seems like yesterday

[@roncooney3623]

Thank you for posting this wonderful song, wonderfully sung!

[@teardrop720]

Wonderful majestic voices .. truly a masterpiece performance 👏

[@damnyankeega]

Haunting, beautiful, and heartbreaking. Just as it should be.

[@Rand444]

Stunning. Best ever!

[@michaelbarnett8314]

Not only was George Gershwin the greatest American composer, he was, in my opinion, the greatest of composer of all time.

[@1849ad]

I think you clearly forgot about Debussy...

[@graywade9225]

Certainly America's best. Hard to compare with others, as his work is so original. My personal favorite!

[@timothyscanlon5156]

He got some of his ideas from, of all people, Richard Wagner.

[@cheryledelman4457]

Why compare composers. All were and are great including my undiscovered self!

[@zootopia8586]

@@cheryledelman4457 You are the GOAT. But how about Beethoven.

[@stdepi]

sniff, sniff....I'll have to get back to you. my heart is deeply touched!

[@ronbruckman6081]

Thank you mr. G. Gershwin and wonderful performers for one of the most beautiful and impressing lovesongs ever!!! A song to fall in love with!❤❤❤😊

[@janicelivett8892]

The calibre of these two singers is awe inspiring

[@nathlieandrews6256]

if this was on the radio instead of the junk the world woUld be a better place.

[@Cantarg]

The best feelings and singing from the great singers and personalitys. The best interpretation that I ever heard. Thank you Will!! I love you!!

[@amielschotz4982]

One of the great love duets of all opera wonderfully sung

[@cdarw]

Amiel Schotz indeed. What makes it unique is that the love transitions from one-sided to mutual right before our eyes.

[@Ap13HELPjlb51]

Wow! I think the best version I've ever heard, and that's saying something. Thanks, What incredible voices.

[@graywade9225]

The entire production is spectacularly good. Trevor Nunn did an amazing job.

[@Cutie0ftheyear]

Saw this play in Seattle pre covid and I had no clue I would be hiding wiping away my tear at the end

[@vintagebrew1057]

Oh the Beauty!

[@scandia61]

One of my favorite musicals of all time. I do feel sorry for Porgy, however.

[@pattyb325]

Beautiful song. I saw the movie when I was 7 years old, have loved it ever since!

[@user-we3fh3nr3y]

Как же это душевно. Великолепно, трогатьельно, нежно

[@Dylonely42]

The most beautiful musical duet ever composed in history.

[@brucer9572]

Well, for the past few months I've been griping about not seeing and hearing a man and a woman singing in each other's arms. But somehow or another this morning, I remembered Porgy and Bess. And here it is! I'm probably going to be slightly better behaved today. Or so I hope. I'm cranky, disappointed, and angry, and I think myself ready to bite your head off if you don't agree with me about how things are going. But this duet is a tonic. It will get me through the day. I mean, at least I'll get further into the day without as much rancor and hostility. Beauty!

[@juanmonge8]

All the songs from this show break my heart. So full of emotions and I root for the underdog.

[@FredericaE]

Both Gershwin's left us with such beautiful American music! I love "Porgy & Bess", but especially this one, as Bess is usually a dramatic soprano. Cynthia being a lyric soprano brings an extra beauty to this!! Thanks for posting this !!

[@olliemartinelli4034]

The chord at 5:33 is just devastatingly gorgeous. Seems to perfectly capture both their longing for each other and how they relationship ultimately ends tragically.

[@cdarw]

Indeed! Thanks for providing the link. Do you know what chord it is? The voicing makes it beautifully dense.

[@olliemartinelli4034]

​@@cdarw It's quite hard to work out and I may be very wrong but I think it's a Db maj7 sus 4 / Ab that then resolves to F# major. Then second time round its the same chord but the Ab is now an A and then it resolves to a Db dominant chord. As you said the voicing is absolutely magnificent.

[@cdarw]

@@olliemartinelli4034 thanks! I’ll try that out on my piano later. I was surprised that the word “major” appeared in your suggestion because the chord in question is so dissonant. I was sure it was diminished, although the sus4 is just a semitone away from a flat 5. Good job! 😊

[@olliemartinelli4034]

@@cdarw I did actually originally think of it as an A diminished 7 over Db but the Ab in there threw me off haha

[@Dylonely42]

5:32

[@elegant123fun]

Beautiful Beautiful Absolutely Beautiful voices!!!!

[@Ignite2Transform]

Chills! I remember my intro to jazz at IU Bloomington. Never forget my classmate for making me this copy. Bliss ❤️

[@gilbertorosales5317]

Now...this is touching music...this is divine...THE HUMAN SPIRIT AT ITS BEST...this is why, we believe in God...

[@crazyorganist1609]

Musical perfection. Gershwin was an absolute genius. Soul touching music. Tragic he died so young

[@ailinrondeau899]

The best of Gershwin for sure. Strikes a beautiful cord for us lover's dream of you💖

[@ThePiersidente]

Beauty Is Truth, Truth beauty

[@Dylonely42]

One of the best opera duets ever… My favorite duet.

[@clar5295]

I felt every emotion in this beautiful song brought me to tears !

[@joannehines7806]

Eternally thankful & grrateful to my fostermom, Mrs. Bennie Fields, & her sister ( my fosteraunt) for exposing me to the cultural arts!! Love you both into infinity; continue RIHP Great Cultural Empresses!! RIHP also to Mrs. Elma Bateman ( my fosteraunt) & her best friend & devoted business partner, Mr. Arthur Wilson ( Founders of Elmart, Inc, a theatre service that catered to arts patrons)💘 🎥 😍 🎭 👩 👨 🏠 🎤

[@DD31595]

I'm starting to cry now. Such a nice song. 😢

[@toffeenut1336]

Beautifully done. One of the best renditions of the song, if not the best.

[@LuvvyDuck]

Beautiful... just beautiful. 💕

[@janetfritchen4614]

Absolutely beautiful,touches the soul.

[@bobbylincoln6949]

This is how you put soul into a song

[@ESilva-gw9ig]

Perfect voices and a poignant interpretation of this beautiful music. Great artists really giving their best.

[@louis-henribaillet890]

This is beyond beautiful, wow!

[@TheAnthonydel]

This always reminds me of my days in the Tidewater Area Musicians Orchestra. I loved playing this

[@studentoftheword6115]

Absolutely OUTSTANDING !!!!!!

[@carlosmartineztoledano2433]

¡¡¡ BELLISIMA VERSION, FANTASTICOS AMBOS !!!

[@socorrodiaz9976]

Cuando tenia aproximada mente 15 años oí por primera vez esta linda música, nunca pensé que era Opera, ahora soy una persona mayor y conocí esta hermosa ópera de Gershwin, el creador de Rapsodia en Azul. Amo éste genero.

[@YThome7]

One would expect that this masterpiece would be performed much more often today in America, alas.

[@nigelbell5273]

I just lost my darling girl to someone else, so I cry when I watch this beautiful performance of a beautiful song.

[@shirleyspaulo2735]

💌 Beautiful! ... Wonderful!! Thank's. (SabraD'ShaÚl)🕊

[@cheryledelman4457]

why don't millions watch these and weep but the sentiment of it all!

[@PEPEDEBARRO]

One of the most wonderful love duetts ever

[@davesmith6815]

Angels singing.

[@dreadkong22]

This is moving. Life should be like this. I love it.

[@johncaya1030]

yes

[@melizametzger]

Incredibly beautiful . Thank you so much ♥️

[@brucehutchison3946]

Wonderfully sung, melts my heart.

[@LeftysLefty]

Mornin time an evenin time an summer time an winter time...

[@gilmartrevisan]

Just wonderful

[@XiaoSunJing]

Oh my god... THIS is extremingly GORGEOUS

[@matosc]

SO beautiful it gives me tears they can sing but the soprano is GREAT!!!!

[@scotthersey4380]

For decades I always heard the opening as "And you must laugh and sing and dance/For true, instead of mourn..."

[@rebwanz]

Such a beautiful song!

[@Lolo1130]

THE best rendition yet…

[@timparcival]

One of the best tunes every by an American composer.

[@user-dk6sy4cm8i]

Beautiful

[@nwadi6408]

Marvelous. Just marvelous.

[@Doenerprophet]

His voice is just amazing...

[@theressamurphy2996]

Lovely performance

[@EG-wv3jp]

brings tears to my eyes...

[@wimvanhelden1405]

Beautiful,one word: Beautiful!!

[@elmestra]

Gershwin in heaven !

[@kirsteni.russell5903]

This aria (it IS an aria) is one of the most beautiful ever composed. Watch out if you ever associate it with a romance in your own life and you lose the romance--you'll cry every time you hear it!

[@saidmrabet4474]

It's a duet, if you want to be accurate.

[@nigelbell5273]

I do, Kirsten--I do!