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Kurt Weill: A Season Preview

Sep. 01, 2015

Kurt Weill: A Season Preview

From Berlin to Rome, the coming season is filled with thrilling performances and stagings of works by Kurt Weill. A few performances to watch for early in the 2015-16 season include:

September 2015: The Berliner Ensemble soon reaches a milestone with Robert Wilson’s acclaimed production of Die Dreigroschenoper (The Threepenny Opera), which they have taken all over the world since its premiere in 2007. The company mounts their 200th performance during the coming season, and they are going strong. Next performances: September 26-27 at the company’s home in Berlin. Learn more at berliner-ensemble.de.

October 2015: Teatro dell’Opera di Roma (Rome Opera) revives Graham Vick’s production of Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny. Known for his interpretations of modern operas, Vick first mounted Aufstieg at the Opéra National of Paris in 1995. John Axelrod conducts the Rome performances, with Measha Brueggergosman as Jenny, reprising her impressive performance in Madrid at the Teatro Real in 2010. Brenden Gunnell sings Jimmy, Iris Vermillon portrays Begbick, and Willard White takes the part of Trinity Moses. Opening night is October 6, with six performances altogether. Find out more at operaroma.it. 

January 2016: Die Dreigroschenoper sees a major new production this winter in Vienna at the Theater an der Wien. Led by Keith Warner (whose Weill credits include Der Silbersee, Wexford, 2007) and conducted by Johannes Kalitzke, the production boasts an all-star cast, including Angelika Kirchschlager (Mrs. Peachum), Anne-Sofie von Otter (Jenny), Florian Boesch (Mr. Peachum), Tobias Moretti (Macheath), and Nina Bernsteiner (Polly). Opening night is January 13, with a total of eight performances. Visit theater-wien.at for more information.  

Keep an eye on Weill in Scandinavia this season. His opera for students, Der Jasager (libretto by Bertolt Brecht) goes up for five performances at Oslo’s Norske Oper & Ballett in November. Kolmen pennin ooppera (The Threepenny Opera) enjoys an extended run at the Lappeenrannan Kaupunginteatteri from January 15 through April 30 in Lappeenranta, Finland.

For more information on Kurt Weill, visit kwf.org. 

Kurt Weill
The Threepenny Opera (1928)
play with music after John Gay's The Beggar's Opera; in three acts
German translation by Elisabeth Hauptmann
adaptation and lyrics by Bertolt Brecht
2S, 2Mz, T, Bar, B-Bar and speaking roles
asax(fl, cl, bsax).tsax(ssax, bsn, bcl)-tpt.tbn(db)-banjo(vc, gtr, Hawaiian gtr, mandolin, bandoneon)-timp/perc (tpt 2)-harm (cel, pno)
full evening 

Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny (1927/29)
opera in three acts
text (Ger) by Bertolt Brecht
English translation by Jeremy Sams
S, Mz, 3T, 2Bar, B; chorus and orchestra
2(2pic)1.1.ssax.asax.tsax.2(cbsn)-2.3.2.1-perc.timp-pno.harm ad lib.banjo.bass gtr.bandoneon-str
Stage orchestra: 2(2pic).2.3sax(ssax, asax, tsax).2-2.2.2.1-perc-pno.zither or xyl.banjo.bandoneon-3 vn
full evening

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