Final answer:
George Gershwin likely had high expectations for 'Porgy and Bess' due to his confidence in his abilities as a composer and his ambition in the arts, which would make the success of the opera unsurprising to him.
Step-by-step explanation:
George Gershwin would likely not have been surprised about the success of Porgy and Bess because of option A) He had high expectations, and D) He was confident in his abilities. Gershwin was known to have been an ambitious and talented composer who believed in the importance and quality of his work. The opera Porgy and Bess combined elements of classical music, jazz, and American folk music, which were innovative at the time, and Gershwin's confidence in his fusion of these musical styles contributed to the faith he had in the success of the show.
Gershwin's confidence was likely bolstered by his previous successes in music and theatre. The creation of Porgy and Bess was a passionate endeavor for him, embracing the complexity of the characters and the richness of the African American culture. Although he passed away at the young age of 38, not long after the premiere of Porgy and Bess, his legacy endures, and his confidence in the work's enduring relevance and artistry was well-founded.