Paul Godwin- Tango Ballade (Threepenny Opera) (Kurt Weill)

Paul Godwin's Jazz Symphonians: Tango-Ballade (Kurt Weill) „Die Dreigroschenoper" (Threepenny Opera), Polydor 1928
----------------------------------
The Threepenny Opera (Die Dreigroschenoper) is a revolutionary work of musical theatre, by German dramatist Bertolt Brecht and composer Kurt Weill, in collaboration with translator Elisabeth Hauptmann and set designer Caspar Neher, adapted from an 18th century English ballad opera, John Gay's The Beggar's Opera. Premiering on August 31, 1928, Die Dreigroschenoper offers a socialist critique of the capitalist world. Set in the impoverished back alleys of Victorian London, The Threepenny Opera follows underworld antihero Mackie Messer (a.k.a. Mack the Knife) as he tries to woo Polly Peachum and elude the authorities. With its palpable evocation of corruption and dread, set to Weill's irresistible score, The Threepenny Opera remains a milestone in the history of modern musical comedy.
It was first performed at the Theater am Schiffbauerdamm in Berlin and, after an initially poor reception, went on to run 400 times in the next two years. The performance was a springboard for one of the best known interpreters of Brecht and Weill's work, Lotte Lenya, who was married to Weill. The work subsequently became a huge success, being translated into 18 languages and performed more than 10,000 times.

In 1931, the sly melodies of Kurt Weill and the daring of dramatist Bertolt Brecht come together on-screen under the direction of G. W. Pabst (Pandora's Box) in the classic adaptation of the Die Dreigroschenoper. Pabst made a German- and French-language versions simultaneously - a common practice in the early days of sound films (It was translated into French as L'Opéra de quat'sous; quatre sous, or four pennies being the equivalent French expression for Threepenny).

The earliest supposed-to-be-complete (but incomplete) recording of Die Dreigroschenoper was made in 1930 for Telefunken, with Lotte Lenya (Jenny), Erika Helmke (Polly), Willi Trenk- Trebitsch (Macheath), Kurt Gerron (Moritatensänger; Brown), Erich Ponto (Peachum) and Lewis Ruth Band, conducted by Theo Mackeben.

Paul Godwin's Jazz Symphonians' performance is less known - and more rare -- but splendid, like every of Paul Godwin's sides.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Kurt
• Weill
• Bertolt
• Brecht
• Weimar
• Berlin
• Die
• Dreigroschenoper
• Threepenny
• Opera
• The
• Beggars'

[ray1bradbury]

This was intriguing for me, I did not know this song before now and I love it very much! I must find out more about the Threepenny opera.

I cannot stop playing this song! Thank you.

[barbcard]

A splendid version all around, jazz rhythms and even a touch of the classical. Danke!

[mikemcgee]

i had thought kurt wiells had hair on his head i must of got confused with him for another composer who was wacky in the film version rudolph forester impersonated exactly as the actor in the stage version although that still looked like it was from the film version tcm showed it cause they felt it was safe since it was made before 33 but that s typical of a station who wants wall street ratings but it was a miracle they showed it cause they avoid german movies because of hitler

[fishexpertonline]

This is my grade 4 saxophone piece.

[priapus56]

Do any girls out there fancy Kurt Weill?? My mate reckons that sideways on I look like him. Yes, rather unfortunate I know, but surely there must be SOME byrds who fancy that look.. Humm?

[AngusTCat]

I love this song and this is one of the best recordings of it I've ever heard. Wonderful!

[whizbang47]

Oh, Genia(!) "In einer Zeit, die jetzt vergangen ist, lebten Wir schon zusammen, Sie und Ich...."

(You know I love this song. I saw that free Central Park Shakespeare Festival 3-Penny 4 times.) Thanks sehr viehl for this.

[maikedulk]

wonderful, wonderful. Thank you.

[smurfswacker]

A beautiful rendition, capturing the original cabaret-style orchestration. I'll be listening to this a lot.

[dzheger]

I love Kurt Weill, and this is a beautiful arrangement. Thanks for the info and the splendid pictorial accompaniment.

[kspm01]

A truly perfect arrangement!