Die sieben Todsünden (1933)

Ballet chanté in nine scenes.
Lyrics by Bertolt Brecht.

Performance Information
Synopsis
List of Movements
Recordings

Photo of Tilly Losch and Lotte Lenya

Tilly Losch and Lotte Lenya as Anna II and Anna I,
from the original production, Paris, 1933.

Performance Information

English title: The Seven Deadly Sins
Cast: Anna I (soprano), Anna II (dancer), the Family (2 tenors, baritone, bass), corps de ballet.
Orchestra: 2 (2 picc).1.2.1; 2.2.1.1; harp, piano, banjo (guitar), timp, perc; strings.
Duration: 35 minutes
Published Editions: piano-vocal score (German-English), B. Schott's Söhne, 6005
Performance Rights and Rentals: USA: EAMC
All other territories: SCHOTT
Authorized Translations: English -- W.H. Auden & Chester Kallman; Michael Feingold
French -- Edouard Pfrimmer
First Production: June 7, 1933, Paris, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, George Balanchine, chor., Maurice Abravanel, cond.

Guide to orchestration, territory abbreviations, and publishers' symbols.

Synopsis

Anna I (who sings) and Anna II (who dances) are two facets of one personality. At the behest of her family, they travel to seven different American cities in order to make enough money to build a little house on the banks of the Mississippi. In each city, she/they encounter a different deadly sin, and Anna I (the practical side) rebukes Anna II (the artistic side) for engaging in sinful behavior--that is, behavior which hinders the accumulation of wealth. After each sin is repented in turn, they return to their new house.

List of Movements

Introduktion
1) Faulheit (Sloth)
2) Stolz (Pride)
3) Zorn (Wrath)
4) Völlerei (Gluttony)
5) Unzucht (Lust)
6) Habsucht (Covetousness)
7) Neid (Envy)
Finaletto

Recordings

Sony CD MHK 63222; Sony Classical 82876 78754 2 reissued on Line Music CD 5.00991 reissued on Membran Music 232580	Lotte Lenya, Wilhelm Brückner-Rüggeberg, cond. [arrangement]
Polydor CD 429 333-2 reissued on Berlin Classics CD 0013752BC	Gisela May, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Leipzig, Herbert Kegel, cond. [arrangement]
Kebec LP KD-977	Pauline Julien, Jacques Marchand, cond. [arrangement]
EMI Classics CD 7 64739 2 reissued on EMI Classics 50999 6 97185 2 6	Elise Ross, Simon Rattle, cond. [original keys]
CBS CD MK 44529 reissued on Sony CD SBK91129	Julia Migenes, Michael Tilson Thomas, cond. [arrangement]
Decca CD CD 430168-2	Ute Lemper, RIAS Berlin Sinfonietta, John Mauceri, cond. [arrangement]
Tonkühn CD 001	Serena Wey, Basel Sinfonietta, Mark Fitz-Gerald, cond. [original keys]
Cleveland Orchestra CD CO 093-75	Anja Silja, Cleveland Orchestra, Christopher von Dohnányi, cond. [original keys]
Capriccio CD CD 60 028-1	Doris Bierett, Kölner Rundfunkorchester, Lothar Zagrosek, cond. [arrangement]
Harmonia Mundi CD CD HMC 901420; reissued on HMA 1951420	Brigitte Fassbaender, Radio Philharmonie Hannover des NDR, Cord Garben, cond. [original keys]
Deutsche Grammophon CD 439 894-2	Anne Sofie von Otter, Norddeutscher Rundfunk Sinfonieorchester, John Eliot Gardiner, cond. [original keys]
Teldec CD 4509-95029-2 reissued on Warner Classics & Jazz/Teldec 2564 69735-8 reissued on Elatus 2564 60117 2	Angelina Réaux, New York Philharmonic, Kurt Masur, cond. [original keys]
Deutsche Schallplatten CD DS 1048-2	Pascal von Wroblewsky, Orchester der Komischen Oper Berlin, Mario Vencago, cond. [arrangement]
Erato CD 0630-17068-2	Teresa Stratas, Orchestre de l'Opéra National de Lyon, Kent Nagano, cond. [original keys]
RCA/Reverso CD 74321 601192	Marianne Faithfull, Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Dennis Russell Davies, cond. [original keys, one octave lower; sung in English]
Brigadoon CD BIS 040	Jasperina de Jong, Rotterdam Young Philharmonic, Henk Guittart, cond. [original keys]
Hänssler CD CD 93.109	Anja Silja, SWR Rundfunkorchester Kaiserslautern, Grzegorz Nowak, cond. [original keys]
Video (VHS) Decca 071 166-3; London 449 071 266-3 DVD: Kultur D2904	Teresa Stratas (Anna I), Nora Kimball (Anna II), Orchestre de l'Opéra National de Lyon, Kent Nagano, cond., Peter Sellars, dir. [original keys]