America

Synopsis

Donald Macleod concludes his exploration of the life and work of Kurt Weill, focusing on how he established himself as a successful Broadway composer.

Although Weill was a respected composer of musical theatre in Europe, his reputation wasn't widely known in the United States. It didn't deter him from moving there and he was able to win audiences over and enjoy success on Broadway.

One Life to Live (Lady in the Dark)
Ute Lemper
RIAS Sinfonietta Berlin
John Mauceri (conductor)
Decca 436 4172 Tr 12

Symphony No 2 (1934) - 1st, 2nd mvts
Berlin Philharmonic
Mariss Jansons (conductor)
EMI CDC 5565732 Trs 1-2

I'm a stranger here myself (One touch of Venus)
Ute Lemper
Rias Chamber Ensemble
John Mauceri (conductor)
Decca 425 204-2 Tr 13

Street Scene (excerpt from Act 1)
Rose Maurrant ...... Janis Kelly
Harry Easter ...... Simon Masterton-Smith
Dick McGann ...... Philip Day
Mae Jones ...... Catherine Zeta Jones

Orchestra of English National Opera
Carl Davis (conductor)
That's Entertainment CDTER 21185 CD1 Trs 22, 23, 24, 28

Speak Low
Kurt Weill (vocal and piano)
Naxos 8120831 Tr 13

Oh Captain! My Captain!; Four Walt Whitman Songs
Wolfgang Holzmair (baritone)
Robert Schumann Chamber Orchestra
Wind instruments of Dusseldorf Symphony
Marc-Andreas Schlingensiepen (conductor)
Koch CD 314050 H1 Trs 10-12

Thousands of Miles and Train to Johannesburg (Lost in the Stars)
Stephen Kumalo ...... Arthur Woodley
Concert Chorale of New York
Orchestra of St Luke's
Julius Rudel (conductor)
Music Masters 01612-67100-2 Trs 2, 3

Suburaya Johnny (Happy End)
Lotte Lenya
Roger Bean (conductor)
CBS MK 42658 Tr 20

Related Links

• Unveiling Radio 3's Threepenny Opera
• The Threepenny Opera
• Landmarks: The Threepenny Opera
• The Kurt Weill Foundation (www.kwf.org)

Tracklist

Timings are shown from the start of the programme in hours and minutes.

1. --:--

   Kurt Weill — One Life to Live (Lady in the Dark)

   Performer: Ute Lemper
   Performer: RIAS Sinfonietta Berlin
   Performer: John Mauceri (conductor)

   Decca 436 4172, Tr 12
2. --:--

   Kurt Weill — Symphony No 2 (1934) - 1st, 2nd mvts

   Performer: Berlin Philharmonic
   Performer: Mariss Jansons (conductor)

   EMI CDC 5565732, Trs 1-2
3. --:--

   Kurt Weill — I'm a stranger here myself (One touch of Venus)

   Performer: Ute Lemper
   Performer: Rias Chamber Ensemble
   Performer: John Mauceri (conductor)

   Decca 425 204-2, Tr 13
4. --:--

   Kurt Weill — Street Scene (excerpt from Act 1)

   Performer: Rose Maurrant ...... Janis Kelly
   Performer: Harry Easter ...... Simon Masterton-Smith
   Performer: Dick McGann ...... Philip Day
   Performer: Mae Jones ...... Catherine Zeta Jones
   Performer: Orchestra of English National Opera
   Performer: Carl Davis (conductor)

   That's Entertainment CDTER 21185, CD1 Trs 22, 23, 24, 28
5. --:--

   Kurt Weill — Speak Low

   Performer: Kurt Weill (vocal and piano)

   Naxos 8120831, Tr 13
6. --:--

   Kurt Weill — Oh Captain! My Captain!; Four Walt Whitman Songs

   Performer: Wolfgang Holzmair (baritone)
   Performer: Robert Schumann Chamber Orchestra
   Performer: Wind instruments of Dusseldorf Symphony
   Performer: Marc-Andreas Schlingensiepen (conductor)

   Koch CD 314050 H1, Trs 10-12
7. --:--

   Kurt Weill — Thousands of Miles and Train to Johannesburg (Lost in the Stars)

   Performer: Stephen Kumalo ...... Arthur Woodley
   Performer: Concert Chorale of New York
   Performer: Orchestra of St Luke's
   Performer: Julius Rudel (conductor)

   Music Masters 01612-67100-2, Trs 2, 3
8. --:--

   Kurt Weill — Suburaya Johnny (Happy End)

   Performer: Lotte Lenya
   Performer: Roger Bean (conductor)

   CBS MK 42658, Tr 20

Broadcasts

1. Fri 23 Oct 2009
   12:00
   BBC Radio 3
2. Fri 23 Oct 2009
   22:15
   BBC Radio 3