Mahagonny Songspiel (1927)

Text by Bertolt Brecht [and Elisabeth Hauptmann] (in German and English).

Synopsis
Song List
Performance Information
Principal Productions
Recordings

Photo of original set

Boxing ring set of original production, Baden-Baden, 1927.

Synopsis

There is no dialogue or character development. The songs, considered in order, tell a skeletal story similar to that of the opera Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny. As renowned Weill scholar David Drew writes, "The fleshpots of Mahagonny attract many visitors, but prove disappointing and expensive; God orders the inhabitants to hell, but they revolt, claiming they are there already" (Kurt Weill: A Handbook (U. of California Press, 1987), p. 171).

Song list

Auf nach Mahagonny
Alabama Song
Wer in Mahagonny blieb
Benares Song
Gott in Mahagonny
Finale: Diese ganze Mahagonny

Performance Information

Cast: Charlie (tenor), Billy (tenor), Bobby (bass), Jimmy (bass), Jessie (soprano), Bessie (soprano)
Orchestra: 2 cl (bass cl), alto sax; 2 tpt, tbn; piano, timp, perc; 2 vn.
Duration: 30 minutes
Published Editions: piano-vocal score, Universal Edition, UE 12889
Performance Rights and Rentals: USA, UK, BREV: EAMC
All other territories: UE
Authorized Translations: English -- Michael Feingold
Italian -- Emilio Castellani

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

Principal productions

July 17, 1927, Baden-Baden, Deutsches Kammermusikfest, Walter Brügmann, dir., Ernst Mehlich, cond.
December 11, 1932, Paris, Salle Gaveau, Hans Curjel, dir., Maurice Abravanel, cond.
January 20, 1971, New Haven, Yale Repertory Theater, Michael Posnick, dir., Thomas Fay, cond. (with The Seven Deadly Sins)
September 8, 1984, London, English National Opera, Lionel Friend, cond.
March 30, 1989, New York, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Peter Sellars, dir., Craig Smith, cond.

Recordings

DGG 423 255-2	The London Sinfonietta, David Atherton, cond.
Turnabout TV 34675 (CD reissue: Vox CDX 5043)	West Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, Lukas Foss, cond.
London CD 430 168-2	RIAS Berlin Sinfonietta, John Mauceri, cond.
Capriccio CD 60 028	König Ensemble, Jan Latham-König, cond.