UTE LEMPER CHANTE KURT WEILL (TV)
Summary
In this concert at the Bouffes du Nord, Ute Lemper, accompanied by pianist Jeff Cohen, sings a selection of songs composed by Kurt Weill. Her performance includes songs in German, French, and English, as well as some background information about Weill and his music in French. Lemper and Cohen perform on a bare stage with only a few small props such as a suitcase and a stool. Lemper begins with "The Grand Lustucru" and "Train de Ciel" from "Marie Gallante" sung in French, "I'm a Stranger Here Myself" from "One Touch of Venus" sung in English, and "Bilbao Song" from "Happy End" sung in German. Next, Lemper provides some biographical information on Kurt Weill and talks about the political events in Germany that inspired such works as the following selections: "Die Rota Rosa" from "Das Berliner Requiem" sung in German and "Complainte de la Seine" sung in French. After talking briefly about Weill's collaboration with playwright Bertolt Brecht in creating a new style of progressive political theater, Lemper sings two songs from "Die Dreigroschenoper" ("The Threepenny Opera"), "Barbara Song" and "Moritat vom Mackie Messer" ("The Ballad of Mack the Knife"), as well as "Surabaya Johnny" from "Happy End." Next, she explains the reasons for Weill's break with Brecht and the concept of the city of Mahagonny -- the ultimate site of decadence; and she illustrates with two songs from "Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny" ("The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny"), "Alabama Song" sung in English and "Denn We Man Sich, Bettet, so Liegt Man" sung in German. After relating Weill's 1931 flight from Germany to France as a response to Hitler's rise to power, Lemper sings "Youkali/Tango Habanera" and "Je Ne T'Aime Pas." She then comments on the inspiration for "Marie Gallante," and sings "J'Attends un Navire." Finally, she talks about Weill's transition to the U.S., the incorporation of American musical elements in his compositions, and his career off and on Broadway. She then performs songs from his American musicals: "The Saga of Jenny" from "Lady in the Dark," "September Song" from "Knickerbocker Holiday," "Tchaikovsky" from "Lady in the Dark," "Trouble Man" from "Lost in the Stars," and "My Ship" from "Lady in the Dark." Cohen and Lemper perform one encore, "Sing Me Not a Ballad" from "Firebrand of Florence."
Details
- NETWORK: FR3 (France)
- DATE: November 30, 1992
- RUNNING TIME: 1:39:55
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:53820
- GENRE: Music
- SUBJECT HEADING: Composers; International Collection (France); Music, popular (songs, etc.)
- SERIES RUN: FR3 (France) - TV , 1993
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Jean-Pierre Barizien … Producer
- Micheline Rozan … Director
- Peter Brook … Director
- Kurt Weill … Composer
- Maxwell Anderson … Librettist
- Bertolt Brecht … Librettist
- Ute Lemper … Singer
- Jeff Cohen … Pianist
- Bertolt Brecht
- Adolf Hitler