Clamma Dale is an American operatic soprano…..who is best known for portraying “Bess” in the highly successful 1976 Houston Grand Opera production of Porgy and Bess…..resulting in the show being transferred from Houston to Broadway…..whereby Dale was awarded a Drama Desk Award….in addition to receiving a Tony Award nomination.
Simon Estes is an operatic bass-baritone….who had a major international opera career beginning in the 1960’s….as he has sung at most of the world’s major opera houses….as well as in front of presidents, popes and internationally renowned figures and celebrities including Bill Clinton, Richard Nixon, Boris Yeltsin, Yasser Arafat, Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. Notably, he was part of the first generation of black opera singers to achieve widespread success….and is viewed as part of a group of performers who were instrumental in helping to break down the barriers of racial prejudice in the opera world.
As seen in this video herewith…..Clamma Dale and Simon Estes perform the song “Bess You Is My Woman Now” at the 1986 Lady Liberty Celebration on July 4th in New York Harbor.
