I Discover A Lost Treasure in the CD Cut-Out Bin-Kurt Weill`s ‘The Threepenny Opera’ on Decca/London!
October 26, 2009
Filed under Music
I had the good fortune to pick up another Kurt Weill CD last Friday night. It is The Threepenny Opera, a Decca recording on the London label from 1988, that features Ute Lemper in the role of Polly. Lotte Lenya was originally cast in the role of Jenny, but the song, Pirate Jenny, is sung twice in this version (Polly sings it too-confusion boats, sorry!) of this ‘People`s Opera,’ and Lemper does a dazzling rendition herself. “And a ship with eight sails and, all its fifty guns loaded, has tied up the quay.”
The verse lines are spoken casually, as Jenny tells her Cinderella-esque story of class oppression as a bar maid who is treated with contempt by the rich. But she still has her dreams, in spite of her plight! The melody is haunting and idealistic when she comes around to the chorus. Beautiful!
I found this splendid web page that is dedicated exclusively to The Threepenny Opera. I`ve just barely scratched the surface of its vast body of data on Kurt Weill, the writing of the piece with Bertolt Brecht and the history of its theatric productions with all the marvelous players who have assumed the roles in the ‘Beggars Opera’ through the years. It also has biographical profiles of the original cast members.
The collaborations of Weill and Brecht came to an end in 1930. This is unfortunate! Brecht`s words get equal billing with Weill`s music, but originally, Brecht`s libretto was more important for audiences. According to Lotte Lenya, wife to Kurt, Weill commented one time, “ I can not set the Communist Party Manifesto to music.” Mack the Knife, Weill`s most famous song, is practically talked in this stage version. I prefer it that way…
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I always enjoy reading John’s posts.