Notes and Editorial Reviews
According to the usual view, Kurt Weill had a double career - first composing provocative theatrical collaborations with Brecht in Weimar Germany, later writing for commercial Broadway stages. The continuities before and after 1935 are equally striking, however. Chief among them was his wife, Lotte Lenya, the foremost interpreter of his music, who single-handedly passed her style down to singers who have championed Weill more recently, notably Ute Lemper. Of course, another continuity is Weill's always-remarkable way with a tune, and this disc features Lenya in some of the best-loved songs from their American years - even if you've never heard of Weill, 'September Song' will be familiar - along with some lesser-known gems.
Recorded in
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the late 1950s, Lenya's voice is actually less gruff and declamatory, more of an actual 'singing voice' in these American songs than in Weill's German songs. One thing Lenya could never do was swing - a rehearsal excerpt here features Louis Armstrong trying to teach her how - but the originality and authenticity of her style more than make up for that. Among the bonuses on this re-issue are some of the post-Weill songs best suited to Lenya: excerpts from Kander and Ebb's 'Cabaret,' indebted equally to Weill's German and American styles. Read less
Works on This Recording
1.
Knickerbocker Holiday: September Song by Kurt Weill
Performer:
Lotte Lenya (Voice)
Conductor:
Maurice Levine
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra,
Chorus
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1938; USA
Date of Recording: 08/09/1957
Venue: Columbia 30th Street Studios, NYC
Length: 3 Minutes 45 Secs.
Language: English
2.
Knickerbocker Holiday: It never was you by Kurt Weill
Performer:
Lotte Lenya (Voice)
Conductor:
Maurice Levine
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra,
Chorus
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1938; USA
Date of Recording: 08/09/1957
Venue: Columbia 30th Street Studios, NYC
Length: 2 Minutes 26 Secs.
Language: English
3.
Lady in the Dark: Saga of Jenny by Kurt Weill
Performer:
Lotte Lenya (Voice)
Conductor:
Maurice Levine
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra,
Chorus
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1940; USA
Date of Recording: 08/05/1957
Venue: Columbia 30th Street Studios, NYC
Length: 3 Minutes 58 Secs.
Language: English
4.
One touch of Venus: Foolish heart by Kurt Weill
Performer:
Lotte Lenya (Voice)
Conductor:
Maurice Levine
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra,
Chorus
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1943; New York, USA
Date of Recording: 08/09/1957
Venue: Columbia 30th Street Studios, NYC
Length: 3 Minutes 10 Secs.
Language: English
5.
One touch of Venus: Speak Low by Kurt Weill
Performer:
Lotte Lenya (Voice)
Conductor:
Maurice Levine
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra,
Chorus
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1943; New York, USA
Date of Recording: 08/09/1957
Venue: Columbia 30th Street Studios, NYC
Length: 2 Minutes 49 Secs.
Language: English
6.
Firebrand of Florence: Sing me not a ballad by Kurt Weill
Performer:
Lotte Lenya (Voice)
Conductor:
Maurice Levine
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra,
Chorus
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1944; USA
Date of Recording: 08/05/1957
Venue: Columbia 30th Street Studios, NYC
Length: 4 Minutes 15 Secs.
Language: English
7.
Street Scene: Lonely house by Kurt Weill
Performer:
Lotte Lenya (Voice)
Conductor:
Maurice Levine
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra,
Chorus
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1947; USA
Date of Recording: 07/31/1957
Venue: Columbia 30th Street Studios, NYC
Length: 3 Minutes 36 Secs.
Language: English
8.
Street Scene: A boy like you by Kurt Weill
Performer:
Lotte Lenya (Voice)
Conductor:
Maurice Levine
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra,
Chorus
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1947; USA
Date of Recording: 07/31/1957
Venue: Columbia 30th Street Studios, NYC
Length: 2 Minutes 26 Secs.
Language: English
9.
Love life: Green-up time by Kurt Weill
Performer:
Lotte Lenya (Voice)
Conductor:
Maurice Levine
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra,
Chorus
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1947; USA
Date of Recording: 08/05/1957
Venue: Columbia 30th Street Studios, NYC
Length: 2 Minutes 34 Secs.
Language: English
10.
Lost in the Stars: Trouble man by Kurt Weill
Performer:
Lotte Lenya (Voice)
Conductor:
Maurice Levine
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra,
Chorus
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1949; USA
Date of Recording: 08/16/1957
Venue: Columbia 30th Street Studios, NYC
Length: 3 Minutes 42 Secs.
Language: English
11.
Lost in the Stars: Stay well by Kurt Weill
Performer:
Lotte Lenya (Voice)
Conductor:
Maurice Levine
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra,
Chorus
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1949; USA
Date of Recording: 08/16/1957
Venue: Columbia 30th Street Studios, NYC
Length: 3 Minutes 1 Secs.
Language: English
12.
Lost in the Stars: Lost in the stars by Kurt Weill
Performer:
Lotte Lenya (Voice)
Conductor:
Maurice Levine
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra,
Chorus
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1949; USA
Date of Recording: 08/16/1957
Venue: Columbia 30th Street Studios, NYC
Length: 3 Minutes 59 Secs.
Language: English
13.
The Eternal Road: Song of Ruth by Kurt Weill
Performer:
Lotte Lenya (Voice)
Conductor:
Maurice Levine
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra,
Chorus
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1935-1936; USA
Date of Recording: 08/16/1957
Venue: Columbia 30th Street Studios, NYC
Length: 2 Minutes 8 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: "The Eternal Road" was revised by L. Lewisohn from Kurt Weill's "Der Weg der Verheissung" of 1935.
14.
Die Dreigroschenoper: Salomon Song by Kurt Weill
Performer:
Lotte Lenya (Voice)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Instrumental Ensemble
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1928; Berlin, Germany
Date of Recording: 04/10/1962
Venue: Columbia 30th Street Studios, NYC
Length: 3 Minutes 37 Secs.
Language: English
15.
Mutter Courage und ihre Kinder: Lied der Mutter Courage by Paul Dessau
Performer:
Lotte Lenya (Voice)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Instrumental Ensemble
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1946; Germany
Date of Recording: 04/10/1962
Venue: Columbia 30th Street Studios, NYC
Length: 3 Minutes 5 Secs.
Language: English
16.
Lied einer deutschen Mutter by Hanns Eisler
Performer:
Lotte Lenya (Voice)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Instrumental Ensemble
Period: 20th Century
Written: Germany
Date of Recording: 04/10/1962
Venue: Columbia 30th Street Studios, NYC
Length: 2 Minutes 24 Secs.
Language: English
17.
Cabaret: So What? by John Kander
Performer:
Lotte Lenya (Voice)
Conductor:
Harold Hastings
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1966; USA
Date of Recording: 11/27/1966
Venue: Columbia 30th Street Studios, NYC
Length: 3 Minutes 21 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: Arranged: Don Walker
18.
Cabaret: What Would You Do? by John Kander
Performer:
Lotte Lenya (Voice)
Conductor:
Harold Hastings
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1966; USA
Date of Recording: 11/27/1966
Venue: Columbia 30th Street Studios, NYC
Length: 3 Minutes 25 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: Arranged: Don Walker
19.
Cabaret: It Couldn't Please Me More by John Kander
Performer:
Lotte Lenya (Voice),
Jack Gilford (Voice)
Conductor:
Harold Hastings
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1966; USA
Date of Recording: 11/27/1966
Venue: Columbia 30th Street Studios, NYC
Length: 3 Minutes 17 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: Arranged: Don Walker
20.
Cabaret: Married by John Kander
Performer:
Lotte Lenya (Voice),
Jack Gilford (Voice)
Conductor:
Harold Hastings
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1966; USA
Date of Recording: 11/27/1966
Venue: Columbia 30th Street Studios, NYC
Length: 2 Minutes 41 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: Arranged: Don Walker
21.
Die Dreigroschenoper: Die Moritat von Mackie Messer "Mack the knife" by Kurt Weill
Performer:
Lotte Lenya (Voice)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Louis Armstrong All-Stars
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1928; Berlin, Germany
Date of Recording: 09/28/1955
Venue: Columbia 30th Street Studios, NYC
Length: 8 Minutes 34 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: This selection features excerpts from the recording sessions for "Mack the Knife."
Sound Samples
September Song from Knickerbocker Holiday
It Never Was You from Knickerbocker Holiday
Saga of Jenny from Lady in the Dark
Foolish Heart from One Touch of Venus
Speak Low from One Touch of Venus
Sing Me Not a Ballad from The Firebrand of Florence
Lonely House from Street Scene
A Boy Like You from Street Scene
Green Up Time from Love Life
Trouble Man from Lost in the Stars
Stay Well from Lost in the Stars
Lost in the Stars from Lost in the Stars
Song of Ruth from The Eternal Road
The Solomon Song from The Threepenny Opera (as performed in Broadway show "Brecht on Brecht")
Song from Mother Courage (as performed in Broadway show "Brecht on Brecht")
Song of a German Mother (as performed in Broadway show "Brecht on Brecht")
What Would You Do? from Cabaret
It Couldn't Please Me More (A Pineapple) from Cabaret
Moritat vom Mackie Messer from Die Dreigroschenoper
Mack the Knife Session takes from The Threepenny Opera
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