Porgy and Bess by George Gershwin. Short summary

5 seconds

In a drunken brawl, Crown kills a neighbor and runs away, leaving Bess behind. She is given shelter by Porgy, an invalid who has long been in love with the girl. Because of Bess, Porgy kills Crown. The girl is taken to New York by deception. Porgy sets out to find her.

1 minute

In the fishing village of Catfish Row, poor African Americans live and work. During a get-together, a drunken longshoreman, Crown, quarrels with his neighbor and kills him. The killer goes on the run. His lover, Bess, is left alone. She knocks on all the doors, but nobody wants to let the murderer’s friend in.

The girl is given asylum by a legless invalid, Porgy, who has long been in love with Bess. They begin to live together.

But Crown does not want to let the girl go. He tries to take her away from Porgy’s house. A fight ensues and the invalid kills Crown. Porgy ends up at the police.

Bess is tricked into taking her to New York by a drug dealer. Porgy returns and learns that the girl has left. He goes in search of his beloved.