The Dallas Opera recently headed to "Catfish Row" South Carolina with their production of George Gershwin's masterpiece, Porgy & Bess.

Leading the cast in the title roles are 2004 Maria Callas Debut Artist Award winner Indira Mahajan and renowned baritone Gordon Hawkins, who first took on the role of Porgy in Australia at the age of 26.

Also featured are Lester Lynch as Crown and Angela Renee Simpson as Serena, repeating the roles they sang at Dallas Opera in 1995. Making their debuts with the company are Victor Ryan Robertson as Sportin’ Life, Janice Chandler-Eteme as Clara, Leon Williams as Jake and Bonita Hyman as Maria.

This production - the fourth in Dallas Opera's 51st Season - also marks the company debut of conductor Wayne Marshall, who points out that Porgy & Bess is "not a musical. It’s a classic opera in the same vein as any Verdi or Mozart or Strauss opera."

"When you think about what George Gershwin went through in order to produce this work," the maestro continues. "He went down to South Carolina to absorb the culture down there; a culture so well-captured in this piece that I consider it Gershwin’s masterpiece. No question about it."

Dallas Opera's Porgy & Bess has one remaining performance on Saturday, March 1st at 7:30. Next on their schedule is Puccini's Tosca, which begins performances March 7.

For more information, visit www.dallasopera.org

By Matt Blank