After blazing through the City of Light, The Atlanta Opera brings Porgy" back home"

• Laura English-Robinson
• The Atlanta Opera chorus taking a first glimpse of the historic Opéra Comique in Paris, where they performed in "Porgy and Bess" in 2008.

Over the next two weekends, the Atlanta Opera will stage Porgy and Bess at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center. It's a special production for many reasons, but perhaps most of all because members of the Atlanta Opera chorus are reviving the crucial role they played in a production of Porgy at Paris' renowned Opéra Comique in 2008. In short, Atlanta audiences will have the opportunity to hear a performance like those that thrilled Parisian audiences on one of Europe's most prestigious stages, right here at home. No plane ticket required.

In 2005, the Atlanta Opera chorus caught the attention of directors at Paris' Opéra Comique, and the chorus was asked to participate in that theater's production of Porgy and Bess in 2008. Although individual opera singers routinely travel the world performing on various stages as a part of their job, an entire chorus touring for an opera is relatively rare. Nonetheless, directors at the Opéra Comique felt so strongly about the Atlanta Opera chorus they deemed it worthwhile to bring the entire crew over to Paris. The cast shared suites at a hotel in the 11th Arrondissement for six weeks while they rehearsed and performed at Paris' historic Opéra Comique theater, one of the most famous opera stages in the world.