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Chandos

In Search of Youkali - Songs of Kurt Weill

$21.99

Details

Composer
Kurt Weill
Artist
Katie Bray, William Vann, Murray Grainger, Marianne Schofield
Format
CD
Label
Chandos
Released
Jan 09, 2026
Catalog #
CHAN 20359
UPC
0095115235928

About

Winner of the Dame Joan Sutherland Audience Prize at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition, the British mezzo-soprano Katie Bray has become known for her magnetic stage presence and gleaming, expressive tone. Katie writes: 'Youkali, It is the land of our desires, It is happiness, it is pleasure... But it is a dream, a folly, There is no Youkali! This song was my first encounter with Kurt Weill, more than twenty years ago, and that yearning, mesmerising tango has been a constant companion ever since. The sentiment behind 'Youkali' touched me deeply, and seemed to echo Weill's own search for a place of personal and artistic freedom, a German Jew forced into exile in 1933 owing to the rise of the Nazi regime. He moved around the world, and with each new country came a reinvention of himself and some more miraculous musical shape-shifting. 'Youkali' is Weill's 'Somewhere over the rainbow', an idea that resonates strongly with me, and seems painfully relevant to us all as I write this, in 2025, yet again living in a world at war. My performances of Weill's songs have always centred around 'Youkali' and Weill's search for a place to belong and to be free. I have wanted to make this album for many years, and am thrilled finally to have had the chance to do so with such a special team of collaborators and friends. It is my tribute to Kurt Weill, the chameleon, in all his glory, and a tribute to us all in our search for kindness, love, and peace.'

Tracklist 19 tracks

  1. 1 A Glimpse of Youkali 00:48
    Track
    1
    Title
    A Glimpse of Youkali
    Duration
    00:48
    Composer
    Katie Bray
    Performer
    Katie Bray
  2. 2 Die Dreigroschenoper, Act I: Barbara-Song (arr. K. Bray, M. Grainger, M. Schofield and W. Vann for voice, double bass, piano and accordion) 05:06
    Track
    2
    Title
    Die Dreigroschenoper, Act I: Barbara-Song (arr. K. Bray, M. Grainger, M. Schofield and W. Vann for voice, double bass, piano and accordion)
    Duration
    05:06
    Composer
    Kurt Weill
    Performer
    Katie Bray, Marianne Schofield, William Vann, Murray Grainger
  3. 3 Berlin im Licht (version for voice and piano) 01:46
    Track
    3
    Title
    Berlin im Licht (version for voice and piano)
    Duration
    01:46
    Composer
    Kurt Weill
    Performer
    Katie Bray, William Vann
  4. 4 Die Dreigroschenoper: Overture (arr. M. Grainger, M. Schofield and W. Vann for double bass, piano and accordion) 01:57
    Track
    4
    Title
    Die Dreigroschenoper: Overture (arr. M. Grainger, M. Schofield and W. Vann for double bass, piano and accordion)
    Duration
    01:57
    Composer
    Kurt Weill
    Performer
    Marianne Schofield, William Vann, Murray Grainger
  5. 5 Happy End, Act III: Surabaya Johnny (arr. K. Bray, M. Grainger, M. Schofield and W. Vann for voice, double bass, piano and accordion) 05:04
    Track
    5
    Title
    Happy End, Act III: Surabaya Johnny (arr. K. Bray, M. Grainger, M. Schofield and W. Vann for voice, double bass, piano and accordion)
    Duration
    05:04
    Composer
    Kurt Weill
    Performer
    Katie Bray, Marianne Schofield, William Vann, Murray Grainger
  6. 6 A Vision of Youkali 02:55
    Track
    6
    Title
    A Vision of Youkali
    Duration
    02:55
    Composer
    Murray Grainger
    Performer
    Murray Grainger
  7. 7 Complainte de la Seine 04:04
    Track
    7
    Title
    Complainte de la Seine
    Duration
    04:04
    Composer
    Kurt Weill
    Performer
    Katie Bray, William Vann
  8. 8 Je ne t'aime pas 04:41
    Track
    8
    Title
    Je ne t'aime pas
    Duration
    04:41
    Composer
    Kurt Weill
    Performer
    Katie Bray, William Vann
  9. 9 Marie Galante: J'attends un navire (arr. K. Bray, M. Grainger, M. Schofield and W. Vann for voice, double bass, piano and accordion) 05:16
    Track
    9
    Title
    Marie Galante: J'attends un navire (arr. K. Bray, M. Grainger, M. Schofield and W. Vann for voice, double bass, piano and accordion)
    Duration
    05:16
    Composer
    Kurt Weill
    Performer
    Katie Bray, Marianne Schofield, William Vann, Murray Grainger
  10. 10 A Dream of Youkali 01:42
    Track
    10
    Title
    A Dream of Youkali
    Duration
    01:42
    Composer
    Marianne Schofield
    Performer
    Marianne Schofield
  11. 11 Buddy on the Nightshift (arr. K. Bray, M. Schofield and W. Vann for voice, double bass and piano) 02:04
    Track
    11
    Title
    Buddy on the Nightshift (arr. K. Bray, M. Schofield and W. Vann for voice, double bass and piano)
    Duration
    02:04
    Composer
    Kurt Weill
    Performer
    Katie Bray, Marianne Schofield, William Vann
  12. 12 Nanna's Lied 03:49
    Track
    12
    Title
    Nanna's Lied
    Duration
    03:49
    Composer
    Kurt Weill
    Performer
    Katie Bray, William Vann
  13. 13 Knickerbocker Holiday: September Song (arr. L.C. Singer for piano) 02:57
    Track
    13
    Title
    Knickerbocker Holiday: September Song (arr. L.C. Singer for piano)
    Duration
    02:57
    Composer
    Kurt Weill
    Performer
    William Vann
  14. 14 Huckleberry Finn: Apple Jack (arr. K. Bray and M. Grainger for voice and accordion) 01:56
    Track
    14
    Title
    Huckleberry Finn: Apple Jack (arr. K. Bray and M. Grainger for voice and accordion)
    Duration
    01:56
    Composer
    Kurt Weill
    Performer
    Katie Bray, Murray Grainger
  15. 15 A Premonition of Youkali 01:20
    Track
    15
    Title
    A Premonition of Youkali
    Duration
    01:20
    Composer
    Katie Bray
    Performer
    Katie Bray
  16. 16 One Touch of Venus: Speak Low (arr. K. Bray and W. Vann for voice and piano) 03:12
    Track
    16
    Title
    One Touch of Venus: Speak Low (arr. K. Bray and W. Vann for voice and piano)
    Duration
    03:12
    Composer
    Kurt Weill
    Performer
    Katie Bray, William Vann
  17. 17 Lady in the Dark: My Ship (arr. K. Bray and W. Vann for voice and piano) 03:24
    Track
    17
    Title
    Lady in the Dark: My Ship (arr. K. Bray and W. Vann for voice and piano)
    Duration
    03:24
    Composer
    Kurt Weill
    Performer
    Katie Bray, William Vann
  18. 18 Huckleberry Finn: This Time Next Year (arr. K. Bray and W. Vann for voice and piano) 02:50
    Track
    18
    Title
    Huckleberry Finn: This Time Next Year (arr. K. Bray and W. Vann for voice and piano)
    Duration
    02:50
    Composer
    Kurt Weill
    Performer
    Katie Bray, William Vann
  19. 19 Youkali (arr. K. Bray, M. Grainger, M. Schofield and W. Vann for voice, double bass, piano and accordion) 05:36
    Track
    19
    Title
    Youkali (arr. K. Bray, M. Grainger, M. Schofield and W. Vann for voice, double bass, piano and accordion)
    Duration
    05:36
    Composer
    Kurt Weill
    Performer
    Katie Bray, Marianne Schofield, William Vann, Murray Grainger